President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of an Oversight Committee to coordinate Nigeria’s hosting of the 4th African Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, scheduled to take place in Abuja from June 23 to 27, 2025.
Themed “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa,” this year’s Forum aims to strengthen MSME resilience across the continent through innovation-driven solutions and cross-border collaboration.
The Oversight Committee is tasked with ensuring a seamless and impactful hosting experience. It will oversee preparations for a rich lineup of activities including keynote presentations, panel discussions, business exhibitions, side events, MSME pitching contests, and awards for outstanding Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The Committee will be chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), and comprises the following members:
- Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
- Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy
- John Owan Enoh, Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment
Other key stakeholders appointed to the Committee include:
- Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)
- Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
- Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director, Bank of Industry
- Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
- Abba Bello, MD/CEO, NEXIM Bank
- Charles Odii, Director-General, SMEDAN
- Dele Kelvin Oye, Esq, President, NACCIMA
- Anthony N. Alonwu, Deputy Director, AU Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs (Office of the Vice President), will serve as the Host Country Coordinator and Secretary of the Committee.
The AU MSME Forum, launched in 2022 by the African Union Commission, serves as a continental platform to empower MSMEs, stimulate intra-African trade, and promote the development of regional value chains. Hosting rights are rotated among member states, with Egypt, Ethiopia, and Namibia hosting the inaugural editions.
Nigeria’s turn to host the Forum signifies both a recognition of the country’s entrepreneurial potential and a strategic opportunity to showcase its economic reforms and digital innovation ecosystem to the rest of Africa.
