Nigeria hosts 4th AU MSME forum in Abuja
Nigeria will welcome delegates from over 50 African countries to Abuja next week for the 4th African Union (AU) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, placing a spotlight on affordable financing, digital transformation, and improved market access for small businesses across the continent.
The continental forum, scheduled to hold from Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27, 2025, is being hosted under the auspices of the African Union Commission, with Nigeria’s approval to host seen as a significant step toward strengthening intra-African trade and enterprise development.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the State House, Abuja, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the event will serve as a critical platform to forge strategic partnerships, build value chains, and implement inclusive policies targeted at empowering Africa’s small businesses.
“The principal objective is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises, develop intra-African value chains, and strengthen policies on MSME development through fostering strategic partnerships that will eventually empower MSMEs to thrive on the continent,” Senator Hadejia said.
In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Hadejia called on stakeholders within Nigeria’s business ecosystem to actively participate in the week-long event and take advantage of the opportunities to forge new trade and investment relationships with partners from across the continent.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, noted that the forum offers Nigeria a prime opportunity to demonstrate its readiness to engage with the global business community under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“While Nigeria is rising again and the world is paying attention, the approval for the hosting of the event by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one way of showcasing to the world that Nigeria is ready to do business. It is one of the first pedestals of opening up our economy to the rest of the world”, Idris stated.
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, also expressed optimism that the event would provide a major boost to Nigeria’s creative and tourism sectors. She said it aligns with her ministry’s “Destination Nigeria” initiative, aimed at rebranding Nigeria as a cultural and investment hub.
“This forum is not only about business, it’s about telling our story, projecting our culture, and cementing our place on the African economic and creative map,” Musawa said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, who also serves as the secretary of the organising committee, assured journalists that all preparations have been finalized.
He revealed that the event will feature a wide range of activities including policy papers, fireside chats, innovation showcases, exhibitions, and networking opportunities for MSMEs.
“From affordable financing models to digital inclusion, the forum will explore bold strategies to unlock the full potential of MSMEs.
“We are also excited about the MSME awards night, which will feature the presentation of cash prizes, houses, and store spaces to outstanding small business owners from across Nigeria”, he noted.
Adekunle-Johnson emphasized that President Tinubu’s decision to greenlight the hosting of the forum was consistent with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies MSMEs as the backbone of economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.
Chief Executives of supporting government agencies, including Mr. Charles Odii of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Abba Bello of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and Mrs. Nonye Ayeni of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), pledged their full support and participation in ensuring a successful outing.
The week-long programme will commence with an official opening ceremony at the State House Banquet Hall on June 23.
Technical sessions and exhibitions will take place from June 24 to 26 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, while the MSME Awards and grand closing will be held again at the State House Banquet Hall on June 27.
