President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the composition of an oversight committee for Nigeria’s hosting of the 4th African Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum scheduled for June 23 and 27 in Abuja.
The theme of the 2025 edition of the forum is “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa”.
The information was contained in a press statement that was issued by special adviser to the President on job creation and MSMEs (Office of the Vice President), Temitola Adekunle-Johnson.
Adekunle-Johnson said the committee will, among other objectives, ensure adequate planning for the successful hosting of the Forum which will feature paper presentations, panel discussions, sponsored side events, exhibitions/networking and MSME Business pitching events and presentation of prizes to deserving Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The committee is chaired by the deputy chief of staff to the President, (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, while Ministers of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Art, Culture, Tourism & The Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan Enoh, will serve as members.
Other members of the committee include, executive director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni; executive secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi; MD of Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi; chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji and MD/CEO of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello.
Also, the DG of SMEDAN, Charles Odii; president NACCIMA, Dele Kelvin Oye, and deputy director (African Union
Division), Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anthony Alonwu would be members.
The special adviser to the President on job creation and MSMEs, Office of the Vice President will serve as the host country coordinator and secretary of the committee.
The AU MSME Forum was initiated as an annual event by the Africa Union Commission (AUC) to serve as a strategy to empower Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, develop intra-African value chains; and bolster regional trade.
The hosting right is rotated among the Africa nember countries. Egypt, Ethiopia and Namibia respectively, hosted the first three sessions of the forum since it was introduced in 2022.
