Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has called on Financial Institutions in the State to collaborate with his administration to strengthen Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, as they are the backbone of manufacturing and industrial activities.

Governor Abiodun stated this when he received the Management Staff of Access Bank, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He noted that the decision to host the National Sports Festival was to consolidate the achievements recorded in the area of infrastructure provision, which had made the State the investment destination for investors and to seek another avenue to showcase it as a tourism and hospitality capital of Nigeria.

 "We have become the toast of investors and manufacturers across all sectors. We decided to bid for the National Sports Festival as we have all the required infrastructure.

"We want to be known for other platforms as well. We do not want to be identified as Nigeria's industrial capital alone; we want to be described as the tourism and hospitality capital of Nigeria,‘’ he said.

"I went around different venues, and everywhere was bustling with commercial activities; it was unbelievable. The market ran out of Adire as they could not keep up, as we have over 9,500 athletes and officials, totaling about 12,000."

The State Helmsman underscored the importance of small-scale enterprises in the economy of a nation, saying that they offer employment to a large population and ensure that the economy was on track.

 "We are also particularly focused on strengthening our Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as they are the backbone of manufacturing and industrial activities,’’ The Governor said.

He appreciated the bank for its role in stabilising his administration at inception and lauded it for its growth from a one-branch financial house to the largest commercial bank in Nigeria with 24 markets.

"Be assured that we will continue to be a part of that success story and deepen our partnership by working closely with you to unlock the potentials of our State, as there is still a lot to do," the Governor added.

Speaking, Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the relationship between the bank and the State had gone beyond customer-client as it had blossomed under the present administration.

He commended the present Administration for enhancing infrastructure and providing a conducive business environment for investors, adding that the agenda he had was paying off, as economic activities were spreading across the State.