By Lagos Panorama News Desk
The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda (AKOD), on Saturday, November 1, 2025, joined top policymakers and business leaders at the inaugural Government–Private Sector Dialogue Series organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance at Radisson Blu, Ikeja.
The high-level roundtable, themed “Finance and SME Growth,” served as a strategic platform for collaboration between the government and private sector towards strengthening Nigeria’s economic development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The event was chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, CFA, and featured participation from key federal and state government agencies. Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu was the Chief Host, while notable attendees included the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, and Directors-General of NAFDAC, NEPC, SON, NOTAP, as well as Managing Directors of BOI, NEXIM, and DBN.
Chairman AKOD joined other dignitaries and stakeholders in the robust dialogue, which addressed critical challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and traders. Participants explored actionable strategies for improving access to finance, regulatory efficiency, and market competitiveness.
Speaking after the session, Comrade Dauda commended the initiative as a laudable effort by the Federal Ministry of Finance, noting that it complements the I.K.E.J.A Agenda—his administration’s framework for inclusive economic empowerment and SME support within the local government.
“This kind of engagement is vital to bridge policy and practice. It gives our traders and small business owners a stronger voice and connects them with national opportunities,” he said.
The dialogue underscored the importance of sustained synergy between the federal and state governments in creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
