My Grand Event Expects Over 100 Event Vendors At South West Exhibition In Ogun

ABEOKUTA - Over 100 local vendors operating within Ogun state are expected at the My Grand Event Season 4.0: The Rebirth billed to hold on August 27-28th, 2022.

My grand event is an exhibition show, set up to showcase array of vendors in the event industry, as well as serve as veritable platform for attendees to interact, network and do business in Ogun State.

According to the convener, Ebunlomo Taiyese, the business exhibition show will put Ogun State on the map of leading states, which supports entrepreneurs and small scale businesses to strive.

Ebunlomo disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Abeokuta.

The entrepreneur noted that, Ogun state government must involve local vendors in programmes and activities organized by its agencies in a bid to harness sustainability and economic development of the state.

She stressed that, such involvement would lead to the growth of over 100 vendors and businesses operating in the state, which will effect a boost in the internally generated revenue of the state.

She emphasized that, her focus is to make the informal sector to strive and add value, despite the setback experienced during the 2020 pandemic.

According to Ebunlomo, “My Grand Event was conceived out of the curiosity to bring value to event vendors in Ogun state, as well as build small scale enterprises in order to compete favourably with their counterparts in Lagos, Oyo state and across Nigeria.

“As players in the informal sector, we believe the informal sector is essential for economic growth. It is a key provider of jobs and income in emerging economies. But the crisis caused by the pandemic has had a significant impact on these economies.

“The informal sector does act as a safety net for the formal economy, thus allowing the unemployed and unemployable to find work or start their own businesses, boosting income and alleviating poverty.

Ebunlomo (middle) addressing journalists

“The informal economy has witnessed a massive expansion in the last two decades in Ogun state, and by extension Nigeria and the root causes of these include elements relating to the economic context in the country, decreasing levels of market regulation, weak policy frameworks, and socio-demographic drivers such as population growth, urbanization, rise in unemployment, widening inequality between the rich and poor, low-level education, including poverty.”

With the current ASUU strike in Nigeria, Ebunlomo noted that she would involve as many idle youths who are seeking opportunities, by empowering them, through various skill acquisition programmes at the event.

She expressed optimism that Ogun state has what it takes to have an efficient small-scale industry, despite the current economic challenge in Nigeria.

“My Grand Event is well positioned to bridge the gap towards increasing the state’s income base.”

She, therefore, urged the state government to embark on series of intervention programmes such as; Soft loans with less interest, grants, and other supports, to achieve an efficient informal sector where vendors can thrive, and achieve sustainable economic growth.