The CEO of ConnectNigeria.com, Emeka Okafor has called on the Government to relax policies for start ups to help the business grow from the stage of being a start-up to the next level.
Mr. Okafor made this call at a press conference on Tuesday in preparation for the 8th edition of Connect Nigeria Business fair scheduled for March 6 and 7 2020.
The business fair which started in 2011 is set to introduce a Hackathon to the set of lined events for the two days business fare.
Amongst the set of events are master class sessions where successful entrepreneur can mentor people who want to be involved in the type of business they are in, and there will also be an exhibition where people who are more interested with business deals can meet.
The business fair started in 2011 out of request from our online users who wanted to meet each other offline and do more business offline and because of that the first edition had 500 people and it has grown since then.
Mr Okafor pointed out the challenges hindering the growth of start-ups highlighted lack of information and taxes as impedements to the growth of SMEs and start-ups in Nigeria.
“It almost seems as if we are Nigeria are working harder than we ought to in getting to where our counterparts are all over the world. I believe that start up for instant should not pay taxes for the first five years they are in business, their first five years in business they should just be focusing on the business; how do you grow your business, how do you employ more people,” he said.
Further calling on the Federal Government of Nigerian to relax the too many policies present in the Nigeria business sphere today, Mr. Okafor said
“There are certain policies that are put in place that not every business person knows even we are 10 years now but we still learn a lot, a new policy everyday. Something new comes up every day. So I think there are too many policies that are trying to regulate businesses and it stiffing growth.
“What we are asking the government do is to relax policies for start-ups and allow people who have invested in hubs to reap the benefits.”
Present at the press conference to respond to questions from journalists was representative of major sponsors of the business fair which are Allianze insurance, aiteo and Ibile Oil and gas.
The 2020 business fair will hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Victoria Island, Lagos.