I'M COMMITTED TO REDEFINING THE ROLES OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN OUR NATION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - OONI OF IFE

The Arole Oduduwa, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife has reiterated his commitment to positively shape the roles of traditional institutions in the nation's economic development.

Ooni Ogunwusi stated this in a release published on his official Facebook handle @ooniadimulaife as obtained by Ife City Blog on Sunday. 

The prominent monarch who had earlier in the week played  host to the South-West winners and nominees of the federal government's MSME clinic program under the office of the Vice-President who came to pay him a courtesy visit at the Ile Oodua, His Palace emphasized the important position MSMEs occupy in nation's economic system and the need for their support of which traditional institutions can play significant roles.

According to Ooni who doubles as the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), MSMEs have remained a constant drivers of economic growth and development in recent times especially in the areas of job creation despite the hits of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Earlier this week, I proudly celebrated with the South-West winners and nominees of the federal governments MSME clinic program under the office of the Vice-President. 

"SMSE is highly instrumental to millions of jobs created in the last few 18 months despite the tempest outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that bedevilled and shocked the foundation of our economy. I pay special tribute to all our small businesses in the nation who have taken massive hits due to the Covid-19 pandemic but still resiliently pushing hard to play crucial roles in our economic recovery", the statement read in part. 

The foremost traditional ruler stressed the inclusive roles of traditional institutions in upscaling the nation's economic turnaround. This is as the keeper of the source of the Oodua race, according to the statement, currently engages in collaborative towards realizing a regional MSME developmental hub, the South-West MSME trust fund, while calling for for a sustained support for the nation's small businesses by providing them with the necessary technical skills and resources to enable them perform optimally.

"In consonance with the Federal Governments strategy of providing unequal support for the SMSE, and through my collaborative efforts towards the launching of the South-West MSME trust fund, I’m committed to redefining the inclusive roles of traditional institutions in our nation’s economic development. 

"We must turn the tide and steer the ship of our small businesses ecosystem by providing them with the best support system, relevant technical schemes, human focused mentorship management and other innovative tools so as to help them stay stronger against future socioeconomic, political and environmental vulnerabilities.

"Together with strategic institutions that have signalled their unequal collaboration with my initiatives, we are building brave leadership and shaping the future of our young generations that are unprecedentedly the drivers and the backbone of our nation’s SMSE growth", Ooni concluded.