Shettima Directs Quarterly MSME Stakeholders’ Meetings, Calls for Greater Role for Small Businesses in Policy Decisions
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and economic stakeholders, stressing that small business owners must have a greater voice in government policies and decision-making.
To strengthen their participation, the Vice President directed the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, to expand membership of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Stakeholders’ Meeting and ensure that it holds quarterly.
Shettima gave the directive on Friday during the MSMEs stakeholders’ meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said government policies must reflect the realities of business owners, adding that each meeting should review decisions taken at the previous session.
“I therefore direct him to expand this forum’s membership and convene this meeting once every quarter. Business owners must have a more decisive voice in our deliberations, and each meeting must account for the decisions taken at the previous one,” he said.
The Vice President described MSMEs as essential to the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, noting that even the smallest business supports families, provides jobs and creates opportunities for young people.
He assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s commitment to making the sector a national priority, while commending government agencies, financial institutions, state governments and private sector partners for helping to turn government commitments into practical support for businesses.
Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed business financing at the centre of his economic agenda, recognising that small businesses need access to capital to grow and contribute to national development.
He highlighted the administration’s approval of ₦200 billion in business support, comprising ₦50 billion in grants, ₦75 billion in loans for MSMEs and another ₦75 billion for manufacturing. Eligible manufacturers can also access up to ₦1 billion through the Bank of Industry.
According to him, the interventions are designed to help businesses withstand economic challenges, improve production and expand their operations. He also recalled that the MSME team had visited different states to demonstrate the administration’s commitment to supporting small businesses.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan-Enoh, described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and called for sustained government support to strengthen their contributions to national development.
He commended President Tinubu for recognising the importance of manufacturing and small businesses through the establishment of the Directorate of Manufacturing and MSME Sector Mobilisation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Adekunle-Johnson, also commended the partnership between the government and stakeholders, attributing progress in the sector to sustained engagement and cooperation.
He assured associations, cooperatives and other MSME groups of continued government support, particularly in access to affordable financing and modern production facilities.
In separate remarks, the Chief Executive Officers of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii; Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni; Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr Abba Bello; and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening support for small businesses through their respective agencies.
They said further interventions were being planned in training, capacity building, market access, affordable financing, grants and the provision of production equipment.
The President of the Association of Women in Textile and Garments, Hauwa Abubakar, appealed for improved access to affordable finance, training and international markets to help women entrepreneurs expand their businesses and create more jobs.
Similarly, the President of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Solomon Daniel Vongfa, called for deliberate government support for MSMEs, describing the sector as critical to Nigeria’s industrial development and economic growth.
He urged the Federal Government to deepen engagement with small businesses and expand targeted interventions to enable them to contribute more effectively to job creation and national development.
Shettima Directs Quarterly MSME Stakeholders’ Meetings, Calls for Greater Role for Small Businesses in Policy Decisions