Dr Florence Ajimobi, wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, has advised entrepreneurs on putting in place efficient business structures for growth.
Ajimobi gave the charge during the closing ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Fair in Ibadan on Thursday.
The SMEs fair was part of the activities lined up to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the institution.
Ajimobi stated that micro, small and medium enterprises were the bedrock of the country’s economy as they provide support and enhance sustainable visible development in Nigeria.
She said: “I am using this medium to encourage all businesses to structure and conduct their transactions in more efficient ways that will leave open the various doors of opportunities that are here and make the fortunes of their trades favorable.
“This two-day fair has been an eye-opener and we are all grateful.”
Ajimobi appreciated the University of Ibadan for its 75 years of grand contributions to the nation, and in encouraging collaboration, innovation and growth among the SMEs.
She added that every hand must be on deck to support the university.
“For me, I see this university as one of the major platforms for the state’s economic and human development.
“So, it is important that every hand should be on deck to help surmount every challenge and difficulty that arises from this fact,” Ajimobi said.
The convener of the SMEs fair, Dr Ruth Adio-Moses, said the university in its “town and gown policy” designed the fair to reach out to the society to know what the university was doing.
“The teachers and students of University of Ibadan have been carrying out research for years and some of the research are being converted into products that we see now.
“So, it is only proper to allow some of these products to be showcased in a setting like this, especially now that things are hard,” she said.
Adio-Moses said those interested could approach the university and convert available research into products which could improve their livelihood.
