‘FAIR IN THE PARK’ OFFERS COMPETITIVE PRICES FOR SHOPPERS – LAGOS COMMISSIONER

The Lagos State Commissioner for The Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti has called on Lagosians to take advantage of the competitive prices of goods offered by different exhibitors at the ongoing ‘Fair in the Park’ for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) holding at Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa Ikeja.

The Commissioner, who declared the five-day event open on Thursday, described the idea of shopping in a conducive and relaxed atmosphere as a very noble initiative of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK.

Durosinmi-Etti, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Biodun Bamgboye disclosed that one of the major advantages of staging the ‘Fair in the Park’ was to offer Lagosians commodities at very competitive and reduced prices that cannot be found elsewhere.

He noted that the State Government recognised that SMEs occupies a vantage position in stabilizing and growing the State’s GDP, thus, the need for government to continually provide platforms that would bring consumers closer to indigenous entrepreneurs.

“The Lagos State Government is always providing opportunities for business owners to thrive especially SMEs and this concept of ‘Fair in the Park’ by LASPARK is one of such ways the Ambode-led administration is putting this together. So, having been given this platform, I want to encourage all entrepreneurs to prove that they are worthy of becoming a global competitor by making the best use of this opportunity”, the Commissioner counselled..

The General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola explained that the ‘Fair in the Park’ was actually designed to further encourage residents of Lagos to regularly visit the various parks across the State to relax and have fun which is one of the mandates of the Agency.

In line with this mandate, the General Manager stated that the Agency decided to engage some of its stakeholders and exhibitors to bring their goods, commodities, and services to the park for a period of five days such that visitors to the park can relax and also shop for their various needs.

She said “This initiative would take a whole lot of burden and stress off Lagosians. They can enjoy the serene environment, relax and shop at the same time and by so doing they will not only be maximizing their time but they won’t be sacrificing their family fun for other things of life”.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Akin Oyebode said that some of the exhibitors at the park are beneficiaries of the Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25bn) Employment Trust Fund of the State Government.

According to him, the State Government was not only concerned about disbursing the funds to the beneficiaries but has also invested in exposing the entrepreneurs to markets where they can exhibit their goods and services to target consumers or users.