President Bola 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 Committee, chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, has other members, including 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.
Other members include, Executive Director Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni; Executive Secretary Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs Aisha Rimi; MD Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi; Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji; MD/CEO NEXIMBANK, Mr Abba Bello; DG SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii; President NACCIMA, Dele Kelvin Oye, Esq and Deputy Director (African UnionDivision), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anthony N. Alonwu.
Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, will serve as the Host Country Coordinator and secretary of the Committee.
The theme of the 2025 edition of the Forum is “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa,” Adekunle-Johnson disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
“The Committee shall, 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 Presidential aide added.
The AU MSME Forum was initiated as an annual event by the African 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 African Member countries.
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Namibia, respectively, had hosted the first three sessions of the forum since it was introduced in 2022.
