May 6, 2021

An online portal, which will link artisans to clients to boost business in the sector, is on the way.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke has disclosed.

The Commissioner who broke the news of the coming virtual market for the informal sector, especially artisans, said it would facilitate access to clients who require their services and boost commerce within the value chain. The online portal will be a marketplace for artisans and consumers.

Mrs. Arobieke, who gave an account of her ministry’s achievements during the Ministerial Press Briefing on the second anniversary of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, said the Governor approved the creation of a robust online platform that would support businesses transactions between individuals as well as Small and Medium Business Enterprises. The virtual market will expose the artisans to global markets and scale up their potential in Lagos State.

Mrs. Arobieke explained that the Ministry had planned to establish Industrial Hubs, which will create a congregation of related enterprises in an identified location for enhanced productivity, wealth creation and business development through provision of access to business accommodation, workshops, standard equipment and infrastructural facilities at affordable costs. She said the multiplier effect would create a value chain in the enterprises.

“The government has also started the construction of the Lagos Leather Hub close to the Mushin Leather Market at Matori, Mushin, Lagos, to leverage the opportunities the market presents to create employment, develop the capacity of artisans and provide equipment and infrastructure,” she stated.

Presenting other initiatives of her Ministry, Mrs. Arobieke said that a Gemstone Hub was in the pipeline to create a market for mineral stones and develop talent among residents who would be interested in transacting business in the value chain.

“A priority of the ministry is capacity building and training programmes for tradesmen and artisans in Lagos State as one of the government intervention programmes aimed at developing the skills of those in the sector,” Mrs. Arobieke said.

Pointing out that the capacity building scheme is meant to upskill the artisans to meet modern-day business realities and position them to be globally competitive, the Commissioner identified that many Nigerian artisans lack requisite skills which result in a preference for the patronage of their counterparts from neighbouring countries.

The tradesmen will be exposed to entrepreneurial training, book-keeping, ICT, Communication etc. which are essential in running modern-day businesses.