NBTI, PAOSMI Partner To Power SME Revolution

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and the Pan-African Organisation for Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI) have initiated a collaboration to advance the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and accelerate continental industrialisation.

The high-level engagement, held at NBTI Headquarters in Abuja, marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu in redefining national development through innovation, technology commercialisation, and Pan-African economic synergy.

NBTI’s Chief Information and Public Relations Officer, Olajumoke David in a statement said the PAOSMI delegation was received by the Board’s Director-General/CEO, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, who affirmed that the partnership represents a strategic alignment with NBTI’s core mandate to drive homegrown technological innovation, incubate viable enterprises, and translate research and development (R&D) into commercial success stories.

Raji commended the visionary policies of President Tinubu, noting that his bold reforms and global economic diplomacy are providing fertile ground for industrial growth, job creation, and economic inclusivity. “Under President Tinubu’s transformative leadership, Nigeria has entered a new era of technological awakening, industrial ambition, and global relevance,” Dr. Raji said.

DG/CEO of PAOSMI, Dr. Henry Emejuo emphasised on the body’s mission to industrialise Africa through SME development, noting that this mirrors NBTI’s work, therefore making the partnership historically essential.

With over 64 affiliate networks across 40 African and Caribbean countries, PAOSMI is spearheading industrial development across 16 sectors, leveraging 17 technical commissions to support SMEs through access to harmonised African standards, capacity building, and enterprise support—especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Highlighting the cassava value chain as a catalytic sector for agro-industrial transformation, Dr. Emejuo called for deeper integration with NBTI to close skill gaps, increase technology adoption, and mobilise funding pathways for SMEs—thereby unlocking Africa’s full industrial potential.

Dr. Raji echoed this sentiment, stating that “Made-in-Nigeria” goods must be made-to-compete globally.”

He affirmed NBTI’s commitment to excellence in product quality, packaging, and branding, revealing that the Board supports over 10,000 SME products nationwide and is currently reengineering its incubation centres for full-scale automation, with strategic international investment support, including from Chinese partners.

Emphasizing the strategic relevance of President Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy, Dr. Raji noted that it provides an unparalleled platform for local manufacturers to thrive, innovate, and scale.

As part of the plans to address the post-incubation process, Raji appealed to the Federal Government for the establishment of advanced technology parks across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to host post-incubatees, boost employment, and enhance national productivity.

The NBTI and PAOSMI resolved to form a Joint Committee to implement targeted collaborations across SME training, innovation commercialisation, trade facilitation, standards enforcement, and value chain development.

At the end of the meeting, both institutions pledged to build a resilient ecosystem for African industrialisation—driven by Nigerian ingenuity anchored on the vision of President Tinubu.