The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), Nigeria has partnered the Federal Government, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Sterling One Foundation and other stakeholders to promote digital transformation.

This was disclosed at the West African SMEs Exhibition in Abuja, tagged: “MSMEs 4.0: Enhancing Quality, Productivity, Competitiveness, Resilience, and Sustainability in an Era of Digital Transformation.”

The exhibition focused on business support for West African SMEs in the Renewable, Digital and Greentech spaces with high growth potential. This is to mobilise and promote bankable and impactful investments and the transfer of green technologies from industrialised countries towards Nigeria and select African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA countries and economies in transition, with a focus on SMEs.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Anite, represented by the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, expressed the government’s commitment to establish a technology incubation hub in Abuja.

According to her, the initiative aims to generate over one million jobs across various economic sectors in the country. Head of UNIDO ITPO, Nigeria, Ms. Abimbola Olufore, stated that the exhibition is in alignment with UNIDO’s mandate to connect investors and technology providers to create synergies and accelerate solutions for sustainable development; connect companies and investment projects with investors and technology providers.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, commended the leadership of UNIDO ITPO for the vision to provide and improve sustainable funding opportunities for SMEs and MSMEs in the country with focus on green and clean technology.

President and Chairman Governing Council of NASME, Dr Abdulrashid Yerima, noted that the goal of the exhibition was to invite MSMEs in technology to meet with investors, grant providers and financial institutions. According to him, the exhibition also provided a platform for them to engage and identify businesses they want to be supported.