Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has stressed the need for Nigeria to diversify and expand its revenue streams to support its citizens and alleviate poverty.
The Deputy Governor made this remark at the closing of the three-day Year 2024 Management Retreat of the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, themed: “Take Part, Take Pride, Deliver Excellence,” on Saturday at the Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, noting that otherwise, Nigeria will still have the same narrative even after 30 years from now.
He added that Nigeria has the potential to be whatever it wants to be, however, the country does not have enough resources to take care of its citizens, hence the need for the country to scale up its revenue base.
Speaking further he said that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) holds significant importance for the nation due to its interactions with multinational entities, encouraging their presence and creating employment prospects.
Hamzat thereby called for the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Trade, and Industry to establish a unit saddled with the responsibility of securing grants for the state, adding that “There are so many grants that the Ministry can leverage on”.
He also averred that there is a need for collaboration with other agencies of the government to achieve the vision. Stressing the importance of safeguarding the nation’s investments, Hamzat lamented that young people face significant challenges in securing employment due to the country’s inability to retain or attract investors.
Earlier in her address, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folasade Ambrose-Medebem underscored the importance of all Ministry staff demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for their roles in achieving the #Greater Lagos vision, given the Ministry’s critical position as the backbone of the state’s economy.
She said, “The mandate of the Ministry is something that needs to be edged in everyone’s memory and what is critical is your role in achieving that mandate. The Ministry is committed to exploring ways to leverage the potential of the cooperatives in achieving the desired outcomes and to harness the data for better decision-making”.
In his presentation, titled: “Take Part, Take Pride, Deliver Excellence”, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Sam Egube emphasised the importance of staff participation and involvement in achieving the Ministry’s mission and vision.
Egube noted that everyone must continue to develop themselves till they achieve the mandate of the Ministry, stressing that there should be a clear link between the Ministry’s goals and the needs of society. The Deputy Chief of Staff stated that the mandate of the Ministry looks outwardly, superintending over businesses and commercialization of the state.
Speaking further, Egube noted that bureaucracy in the civil service impedes the involvement of junior personnel in sharing experiences and exchanging ideas, stressing that this exchange promotes participatory engagement.
