The Country Manager of Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA), Prof. Lateef Sanni, has lamented the closure of 123 Small Scale Enterprises (SME) in the last three years in Nigeria.
Prof. Sanni decried the development while welcoming Economists, Engineers, Senior Lecturers and other participants to the Cassava SME Audit Training for Nigerian Engineers and Socio-Economists held at the Royal Greens Guest House, Abeokuta.
The University Don noted with dismay that the closure of the Enterprise had serious implication on the nation’s economy, but however thanked the Federal Government for its current efforts at re-opening the SMEs, which he said would transform the country’s agricultural sector.
He explained that the training, which attracted 12 Engineers and 26 tested Economists, was in line with government efforts at revamping the ailing SMEs.
In his keynote remark, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. A. A. Adesina, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Olajumoke Adewolu, reeled out pro-active measures to be adopted by the Federal Government in a bid to transform SMEs in the country.
According to the Minister, this include provision of good roads for easy transportation of farm produce, zero percentage tax to cassava farmers, engaging and sensitizing the states on allocation of farms and registration of qualified people as farmers.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Ayo Olubori, stressed the need for the recognition of cassava flour by government and other stakeholders.
He further pointed out that the logistic of bringing raw materials to large plant on daily basis must be critically examined.

The Country Manger (C:AVA), Prof. Lateef Sanni.