Mining: Ministry
Mining: Ministry Trains SMEs Operators to Enhance
Productivity
The Federal Government has restated her commitment to support
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Metals Sector in
the continuing efforts to diversify the economy from dependence on
oil and gas sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel
Development, Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan, restating government
commitment at the opening ceremony of sensitization workshop for
operators of SMEs in the Metals Sector organized by Ministry of
Mines and Steel Development from selected states in the
North-East in Gombe on August 10, 2020, said that government
recognizes the importance of SMEs as engine for growth and
development of the nation hence the resolve of the Ministry to
engage them on the opportunities in the sector.
The Permanent Secretary represented by Director, Special Duties,
in the Ministry, Mr. Olayinwole Adebayo, said the Ministry has
identified the major challenges of SMEs in the Metals Sector
including lack of modern machinery and funding, stated that the
workshop aimed at enlightening the participants on ways of
addressing the challenges as well as improve their skills and
capacities to enhance their productivity.
While urging the participants to take opportunities offered by
the workshop to update their knowledge said: “The resource persons
will share with you better approaches to doing things right at the
first time, especially on the strategies you can adopt to expand
and modernize your enterprises for increased productivity. “
In his welcome address, Director, Steel & NFM, MMSD, Engr.
Kolawole Olasupo, said the workshop (stimulation & promotion of
activities of SMEs in the Metals Sector), was initiated in 2012
with the aim of creating awareness amongst the operators of
SMEs in the Metals Sector, comprising of foundries, fabricators,
welders, manufacturers of spare parts, Aluminum extrusion and
allied products.
“It is the vision of the Ministry to see these classes of
operators in the Metals Sector fully integrated with other
stakeholders in the industry,” he said.
Participants of the workshop were drawn from members of the
National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASI), members
of Welders and Filters Union and Metals Operators and Stakeholders
from Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba States.
The participants were taken through presentations on critical
subject areas to improve their performance – operating a small and
medium enterprises of metals sector in Nigeria: The way to go;
opportunities and funding options for SMEs in the Metals Industry;
and productuctivity, safety and industrial shop floor practice,
taken by representatives from SMEDAN, BOI and Ajaokuta Steel
Company Limited, respectively
Timothy Akpoili
Assist. Director (Press).
For: Director (Press)