Nigeria is set to take centre stage in continental economic discourse as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the composition of an oversight committee to coordinate the country’s hosting of the 4th African Union (AU) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, and the high-level event will take place from June 23 to 27, 2025, in Abuja.

Themed “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa,” the Forum is a flagship event of the African Union Commission (AUC), established in 2022 to strengthen the MSME ecosystem across the continent and accelerate regional trade and value chain integration.

The President’s approval of the Oversight Committee reflects Nigeria’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and supporting small businesses as drivers of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

The committee will ensure comprehensive planning and smooth execution of the Forum, which is expected to feature paper presentations, high-level panel discussions, exhibitions, networking opportunities, sponsored side events, MSME pitching competitions, and the presentation of awards to outstanding Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), will chair the committee.

Its membership cuts across key sectors of the economy, comprising high-ranking officials and industry leaders.

Members of the committee include Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism & the Creative Economy, Hon. Hannatu Musawa; and Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan Enoh.

Also serving on the committee are the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Aisha Rimi; Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi; Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji; MD/CEO of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello; Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii; President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, Esq; and Deputy Director of the African Union Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anthony N. Alonwu.

Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, has been appointed as the Host Country Coordinator and will serve as the committee’s secretary.

With Nigeria’s turn to host the AU MSME Forum, the country joins Egypt, Ethiopia, and Namibia, which successfully hosted the previous three editions of the event since its inception.

The 2025 edition is expected to attract entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and development partners from across the continent and beyond, reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a regional leader in enterprise development and innovation.

The Forum comes at a time when the Tinubu administration continues to prioritize economic diversification, digital transformation, and access to finance, especially for small businesses, as central pillars of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Hosting the AU MSME Forum aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to position Nigerian businesses for continental competitiveness.

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