Guardian Nigeria
Although Small-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine room of development, the existence of a huge knowledge gap in the sector is a challenge inhibiting its growth, Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr Nasir Raji-Mustapha has said.
Speaking while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Raji-Mustapha emphasised that the collaborative efforts of the two bodies will foster entrepreneurship development and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He explained: “We all know the impact small and medium scale businesses have on economies globally, especially the developing economies. Small and medium-scale enterprises produce household items that are not sophisticated. They should have market knowledge about what is needed and how to respond to emerging needs of the market. They should also know how to improve their products deriving maximum output from input. This is a sector that should be knowledge-driven but that is not happening in Nigeria. The sector must sit up and take its rightful place within the manufacturing sector.”
The NPC boss highlighted the pivotal role of SMEs in driving economic progress and affirmed the collaboration as a stepping stone towards achieving the national development objectives encapsulated in the renewed hope agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The agreement extends beyond entrepreneurship development and capacity building, as both organisations identified additional areas of synergy, encompassing data-gathering initiatives, specialised training programs, and targeted youth engagement projects.
The Acting Managing Director/CEO of Abuja Enterprise Agency, Chudi Ezirigwe, said the partnership signals a united front in advancing sustainable business practices, fostering innovation, and nurturing a conducive environment for entrepreneurship to flourish in the FCT.
In another working partnership, the Centre also sealed a collaboration with AIG-Imokhuede Foundation in a move that is aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency in Nigeria’s public sector.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration and cooperation, Raji-Mustapha hinted that the partnership aims to elevate the managerial and operational knowledge, skills, and competencies of the Nigerian public sector through the utilisation of innovative productivity improvement tools and techniques.
It is also targeted at bolstering labour productivity in Nigeria through public sector leadership development programmes and strengthening capacities for effective policy design and implementation, with a focus on enhancing economic growth and public sector service delivery.
The agricultural, industrial, and service sectors have been earmarked as pilot areas for the partnership.On her part, the Executive Vice-Chairperson of the AIG-Imokhuede Foundation, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, lauded the NPC and its impacts on promoting productivity in the country saying the Centre is a worthy partner as the Foundation strives to promote productivity in key areas of the economy.
In the meantime, the Centre has launched its corporate enhancement programme in a renewed strategic move to bolster organisational effectiveness and foster a more vibrant workplace culture.
The corporate enhancement programme encapsulated in a corporate culture booklet, was an initiative undertaken by the Corporate Affairs and Information Department in collaboration with the Human Resource Management and Consultancy and Business Development Departments of the Centre.
In his opening remarks at the launch, the Director General of the Centre, Raji-Mustapha, emphasised the importance of employees’ attitudes towards their work and personal lives.
He charged employees of the Centre to develop inherent passion and make proactive contributions to the growth of the Centre, aimed at enhancing organizational practices and fostering a conducive work environment.
