By Goodluck Ikiebe/Adekunle Adeluyi
Nigeria’s Minister of State, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanaede Agba, says the ministry is considering signing a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) with the Forum of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Business Membership Organizations of Nigeria (MSME FORUM), on development of the sector.
He stated this in a key note address at the 4th Strategic meeting of the FORUM in Abuja.
The Minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Sufian Ojeifo, said that the Federal government believed that the recently launched National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025 by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Agenda 2050 have to be private sector driven and the fact that 86 per cent of the planned investment will come from the private sector.
“These are the reasons for the signing of the MOU in order to work together, especially in facilitating dialogue and developing joint programmes that will promote standardization, product complexity and competitiveness” he assured.
Prince Clem Agba noted that the Federal government will continue to provide conducive and friendly environment to investors and MSME for the growth and development of economic activities in Nigeria, adding that the National Development Plan has identified key strategies for ensuring growth of MSME in the country.
“The plan seeks to invest massively in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, enhance the investment environment and improve on social indicators and living conditions of the people” Agba noted.
In a goodwill message at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mahmoud Abubakar, commended the noble concept of the MSME FORUM as an umbrella body of Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) in Nigeria and the convening of the strategic meeting as part of the efforts to strengthen the capacity of the BMOs in areas of their business engagements to spur better productivity, growth and sustainability.
He expressed his Ministry’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to build an Agriculture and Agribusiness economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food and nutrition, security goal, employment generation, economic empowerment, poverty reduction, increase in foreign exchange earnings and supporting sustainable income and growth.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, (MSME FORUM), Dr Albert Akinyemi, earlier in a welcome speech, thanked all participants at the occasion for their unflinching support and commitment to the success of the body.
Akinyemi, represented by a member of the Board, Mrs Rose Gyar, however, urged the participants to make maximum use and benefits of all the papers that will be delivered.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Professor Hussein Doko Ibrahim, expressed delight with the activities of the FORUM and assured that his agency will continue to support the FORUM.
Our Correspondent reports that Papers were presented by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIMBANK) and Fidelity Bank.
Over 80 Business Membership organisations and owners attended the MSME 4th Strategic Planning Meeting.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
