President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, accepted the composition of an oversight committee for the internet hosting of the 4th African Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Discussion board.
The discussion board which might be hosted by Nigeria will happen in Abuja, the nation’s capital metropolis between June 23 and 27, 2025.
This was disclosed in an announcement by Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, the Particular Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs – Workplace of the Vice President.
This yr’s discussion board is theme, “Constructing Resilient MSMEs via Digital Innovation, Market Entry & Inexpensive
Financing for Africa”.
In keeping with Adekunle-Johnson, the committee has been saddled with the duty of making certain satisfactory planning for a hutch-free discussion board.
The committee led by the Deputy Chief of Employees to the President – Workplace of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia may even guarantee a clean presentation of papers, facet occasions which embrace exhibitions, MSME enterprise pitching, award displays to excellent Nigerian entrepreneurs amongst different facet occasions.
Adekunle-Johnson will function the Host Nation Coordinator and secretary of the committee.
Members of the committee embrace Ministers of Trade Commerce and Funding, Jumoke Oduwole;
Communication, Innovation and Digital Economic system, Bosun Tijani; Artwork,
Tradition, Tourism and The Inventive Economic system, Hannatu Musawa and
Minister of State, Trade, Commerce and Funding, John Owan Enoh.
Others are Govt Director Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni; Govt Secretary Nigerian Funding Promotion Fee (NIPC), Aisha Rimi; MD {Bank} of Trade, Olasupo Olusi; Chairman FederalInland Income Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji; MD/CEO NEXIM BANK, Abba Bello; DG SMEDAN, Charles Odii; President NACCIMA, Dele Oye, Esq and Deputy Director (African Union Division), Ministry of International Affairs, Anthony Alonwu.
The AU MSME Discussion board is an annual occasion initiated in 2022 by the African Union Fee (AUC) to function a platform to empower Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
It additionally goals to develop intra-African worth chains; and bolster regional commerce via makes.
The internet hosting proper is rotated among the many African member international locations. Egypt, Ethiopia and Namibia respectively, have efficiently hosted the primary three Classes of the Discussion board since its introduction.
Adekunle-Johnson who spoke after the president’s approval stated this specific Discussion board will draw MSMEs and companions from everywhere in the world.
His phrases, “This is able to be the primary time Nigeria can be internet hosting the vital MSME discussion board and we might be having near over 6,000 MSMEs from all African international locations and about 145 totally different companions from everywhere in the world, coming into Nigeria to, form of discover how one can assist MSMEs inside the nation and the continent typically.
“MSMEs throughout the nation can be leveraging they usually’ll be assembly and interacting with their fellow MSMEs throughout Africa,” Adekunle-Johnson acknowledged.
He stated the discussion board would additionally avail the SMEs the chance to unlock potentials, prospects and different advantages it has to supply in Nigeria, Africa and globally.
“So it’s a great one for the nation, it going to be a five-day occasion and it’ll climax with the Nationwide MSME Awards,” he stated.
Adekunke-Johnson added that the theme was strategically crafted to make sure that makes in Nigeria and the continent profit maximally from this yr’s Discussion board.
“So MSMEs in Nigeria should start to maximise digitalisation and market opening to their benefit and entry to funding. These three key components are very very important for the survival of any MSMEs,” he famous.