Association Seeks UN Support For SMEs, Industrialists

The Nigerian Association of Small Scale and Industrialists has solicited the United Nations (UN) support towards boosting the Small Scale and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Industrialists in the country.

The president of the association, Dr Solomon Daniel, made the appeal during an interview with LEADERSHIP, yesterday.

Daniel, who is currently attending the ongoing Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, Qatar, emphasised the need for the inclusion of the Nigeria SMEs among the beneficiaries of the plan intervention package.

He said the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had adversely affected the Nigerian SMEs, hence the need for the UN to salvage the situation of the SMEs from further escalation.

“We are here as part of the delegates from Nigeria attending the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

“We are calling on the economically viable organisations that are under the United Nations to support the Small Scale and Medium Enterprises in the underdeveloped countries.

“The UN secretary-general said they are looking for assistance to support the underdeveloped countries in the areas of education, health and women and empowerment.”

Also, the treasurer of the association, Dr Abubakar Tanko, revealed the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has pledged to support developing countries with $60 million.

Tanko also disclosed that the association had developed comprehensive documents that would be submitted to the UN on how best to support the SMEs in Nigeria through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The UN is working assiduously to ensure that developed countries assist the less developed countries to overcome challenges of security, economy, climate change among others.

“For instance, in this year, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has set aside no fewer than $60 million to support less developed countries through the UN.

“As an association that is desirous of benefitting from the UN intervention, we, with the permission of our members, have developed comprehensive documents that we are going to submit to the UN on how we can be included in the scheme of things.”