Prophet Alo tasks FG, states on more support for small businesses

A renowned cleric and the Planter of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo, Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain worldwide, Prophet Sam Olu Alo has appealed to the government to prioritize support for small business owners in Nigeria, saying they drive the economic growth of the country.

He stated that small businesses face numerous challenges, including limited access to funding, inadequate infrastructure, and intense competition from foreign products.

Speaking at a program tagged “Sure Mercy of David”, held at Jesus City, Lekki/Epe Expressway, the cleric, who at the event also trained and empowered some of his congregants with multimillion naira start-up kits urged the government to implement policies that would boost patronage of local products, such as tax incentives, subsidies, and training programs for small business owners.

Beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes include shoemakers, caterers, phone repairers, make-up artists, decorators, and other professionals.

According to prophet Alo, supporting small businesses would not only boost economic growth but also reduce unemployment and poverty rates.

“Some of the products Nigerians import are not made by the government but by individuals, SMEs have a lot of impacts to boost the economy of Nigeria, instead of buying goods from overseas, if we can encourage all the small business owners, it will bring succor and relief to the current economic hardship been experienced by Nigerians,” he said.

“For instance, the wall clock that was built by the beneficiaries of the empowerment, if people like politicians can but it, it will encourage the people to do more and they can also used the money they realise in it to feed their families, by doing this, terrorism and other criminal act will reduce drastically.”

He encouraged Nigerians to patronize local products, saying that there is need for conducive business environment that would enable local entrepreneurs to thrive.

He said by doing so, Nigeria can unlock its full economic potential and create a brighter future for its citizens.

“Government’s support would be a significant step towards reducing the country’s reliance on foreign products and promoting self-sufficiency,” he said.

“By working together, we can create a thriving economy that benefits all Nigerians. Government should take proactive steps to support small business owners and promote patronage of local products, thereby driving economic growth and development.

“For instance in Turkey, their government together with big companies will assemble and train their youths, empower them and also subsidized their products and buy it from them.

“In the overseas, there is also a law called ‘Hand Made’ which makes their local product more costly than those they use machine or technology to produce, meanwhile, the government is the one that will give them part of materials for the product.

“If the government can also encourage them and give them material, it will help the country and unemployment is one of the causes of terrorism, robbery, kidnapping, some have their work but there are no tools for them to work.”