Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into continental economic powerhouses through digital innovation and trade integration.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of the oversight committee for the upcoming 4th African Union MSME Forum, Shettima said Nigeria is actively constructing “digital highways and bridges” to enable MSMEs access and thrive in the African market. The forum is set to take place in Abuja from June 23 to 27.
Highlighting key initiatives, Shettima noted that the government has launched a Technology Export and Digital Trade Desk to support entrepreneurs in exporting services and digital products. He also cited the i-DICE programme — a $617.7 million investment in digital and creative enterprises — and the 3 Million Tech Talent initiative, which aims to train Nigerian youth in coding, data science, and digital literacy.
“We have reformed, we have invested, and we are resolved to see this transformation through,” Shettima said. “This forum is indispensable. It provides the blueprint, the platform, and the partnerships that will empower African MSMEs to become the heartbeat of our economic renewal.”
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, said the forum will promote knowledge exchange and foster pan-African collaboration in MSME development. He emphasized that the summit’s theme — “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access, and Affordable Financing for Africa” — aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda.
Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria’s selection to host the forum reflects the confidence of the international community in its commitment to creating an enabling business environment.
Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, and Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, both pledged support for MSME growth. Ambrose-Medebem revealed that Lagos, home to nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s MSMEs, is providing easier access to funding through the N10 billion LASMECO finance scheme in partnership with the Bank of Industry.
