The President of Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KWACCIMA), Chief Mrs. Ronke Adeyemi, has urged investors to explore Kwara State’s untapped potentials.
She made the appeal on Tuesday (10th December, 2024) during the opening ceremony of the 11th Kwara Trade Fair.
In her speech, Mrs. Adeyemi harped on the significance of trade fairs as a veritable platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services to a broader audience, aiming to attract customers and investors to the state.
“This trade fair, like the others before it, is designed for our businessmen and women to showcase their products and services to the world with a view to attracting customers and investors to our dear state,” she noted.
“Kwara is specifically blessed with human, natural, and agricultural resources and strategically located in the middle of Nigeria, and therefore enjoys weather conditions that are conducive for the growth of diverse agricultural products.”
Acknowledging the economic challenges facing Nigeria, including rising fuel and electricity costs, Mrs. Adeyemi highlighted the need for innovative approaches to resource management and business development.
She stressed that this year’s trade fair theme, “Unlocking Investment Potential of Kwara State for Sustainable Economic Development,” reflects the necessity of leveraging Kwara’s strengths for long-term growth.
“Like the rest of the world, our country is passing through a difficult economic period and this is taking its toll on businesses. The sharp rise in the cost of fuel and electricity in our country are dealing big blows on our economy.”
“But these hard times also have an advantage, we are forced to think outside the box, not only in the effective management of our resources, but also to develop new business ideas that are capable of improving our lives as a people.”
“Hence our theme for this year’s trade fair is “Unlocking investment potential of Kwara State for sustainable economic development.”
Mrs. Adeyemi commended the Kwara State government’s urban renewal initiative, aimed at beautifying cities and enhancing infrastructure. However, she appealed to the governor to assist nano and small-scale business owners affected by these changes by providing resettlement markets to sustain their livelihoods.
“We seize this opportunity to acknowledge the urban renewal program now embarked upon by the Kwara State government to beautify our cities and make them cities and towns we can all be proud of.
We will however be pleading on behalf of our nano and small-scale business owners whose shops and sources of livelihood have been greatly affected by this development that our kind and companionate governor assist these groups with the provision of a resettlement market where they can continue their businesses without hindrance,” Mrs. Adeyemi added.
The trade fair which commenced on the 6th of December will continue till the 16th of December, 2024, featurimg a diverse array of products including; local talents, factories, farms, and small businesses, with participation from local government areas showcasing the unique offerings of their regions. Attendees were also encouraged to explore and support these ventures.
The 11th Kwara Trade Fair stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity of the state’s business community, underscoring the limitless potential for economic transformation in Kwara State.
