Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on young entrepreneurs to embark on regional networking synergy through cutting edge technology, saying that his administration would continue to provide enabling environment for the growth of micro, small and medium businesses.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, at the workshop of the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAYE) West Africa, the governor charged the young entrepreneurs to develop strategies for building a regional young entrepreneurs’ alliance that will promote entrepreneurship and trade within the region and beyond.

He also charged them to harness the several windows being provided by the Lagos State Government to aid the growth of micro, small and medium businesses, in addition to creating an enabling environment in the state for businesses to thrive.

He said: “I also want to urge young business owners to be alive to their civic responsibility by having a constructive and positive involvement in their various communities across the nation.

Entrepreneurs should come up with winning business ideas.” According to him, the government is working across all sectors of the economy to create access to finance and market for all business owners in order to address the myriad of challenges confronting small businesses.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Abdul Ahmed Mustapha, on his part, told the young entrepreneurs from the West African region that the ministry is committed to the growth of businesses and as such, incentives are in place that will make young businesses grow in the area of health, education and agriculture.

He added that capital will be made available for the young business owners with innovative and creative business ideas via the Employment Trust Fund.

Also speaking at the event, Director Youth, Commonwealth Secretariat, Katherine Ellis, described entrepreneurs as the key drivers of developing human capital necessary for the future, stressing that the unleashing of the economic potential of youth is important to developing, sustainable growth and poverty reduction.