Boost for SMEs as growth facilitator, Ajiola, gets new task
L-R: Larry-Goodwill Akintoba Ajiola receiving his Documents of Appointment from ‘Tunji John Asaolu, secretary general, United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) recently.
The economic horizon for the growth and expansion of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the South-South and South-East got brighter recently with the engagement of a popular SME growth facilitator in the region, Larry-Goodwill Akintoba Ajiola, for higher global tasks.
Following his current multiple engagements as head of policy and diplomatic affairs at the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), head of training and capacity development at the African School of Diplomacy and International Relations (ASDIR), distinguished fellow and certified global expert in political economy at the International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration (IIEPEA) and head of communication, marketing and branding at the African Academic Achievers’ Awards (A4), the international SMEs/SDGs’ expert is now responsible for mobilizing distinguished individuals for membership in UN-WCD, assembling participants’ training on leadership, diplomacy and team development through ASDIR.
He is also facilitating affiliations of ASDIR with other universities, promoting the IIEPEA institute and championing a think-tank on political economic dynamics for a development-oriented governance and global economic growth as well as mobilizing institutions for A4 award and initiating institutional ratings to promote academic excellence.
With these latest engagements of Ajiola, known for his great passion for SMEs’ growth, operators within the South-South and South-East regional economic corridor believe that the global frontier market would be made more accessible to the sector.
A statement signed by Tunji John Asaolu, a professor and secretary-general of United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) in Abuja and made available to BusinessDay, noted that part of Ajiola’s new task also includes organizing occasional socio-economic and international diplomacy-enhancment programmes.
“His (Ajiola’s) appointment is a testament to our organization’s dedication to fostering global peace, understanding, and cooperation,” the statement added.
In an interview with BusinessDay in Port Harcourt, Ajiola described the multiple engagements as a good omen for the business sector in the South-South and South-East region in particular and in the nation at large, expressing hope that the new tasks would positively rub off on the sector.
Ajiola, an international ambassador for peace and PHD holder, noted: “It’s a recognition of the little efforts we have made over the years to promote the business, peace, diplomacy and international relations eco-system and I’m happy about it. I know there will be challenges but we shall succeed with unity of purpose and the diplomatic, academic and socio-economic sectors will all be impacted at the end of the day.”
Ajiola, who also is the managing director of I-Conntact.Connect Ltd, has supported a lot of SMEs in Port Harcourt and other cities in the South-South and South East Region while promoting peace advocacy and UN SDGs.
In August, he partnered with the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) to mark the 2025 World Humanitarian Day at Enugu.
