President Bola Tinubu has approved the formation of an oversight committee to organize Nigeria’s hosting of the 4th African Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, scheduled to take place from June 23 to 27 in Abuja.

The theme for the 2025 edition of the forum will be “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa.” Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, made the announcement in Abuja on Wednesday.

The committee’s responsibilities include ensuring proper planning for the event, which will feature paper presentations, panel discussions, exhibitions, networking opportunities, MSME business pitching events, and the presentation of prizes to outstanding Nigerian entrepreneurs. The committee will be chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia.

Members include Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy; Hon. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism & The Creative Economy; and Sen. John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment. Additional members include Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry; Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service; Abba Bello, Managing Director and CEO of NEXIM Bank; Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN; and Dele Kelvin Oye (Esq.), President of NACCIMA. The committee will also be supported by Anthony Alonwu, Deputy Director (African Union Division) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, who will serve as the host country coordinator and secretary.

The AU MSME Forum was introduced by the African Union Commission in 2022 as an annual event aimed at empowering Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), enhancing intra-African value chains, and fostering regional trade. The forum’s hosting rights rotate among African member countries, with Egypt, Ethiopia, and Namibia hosting the first three editions.