President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the establishment of an oversight committee to coordinate Nigeria’s preparations for the 4th African Union Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum. This was announced in a statement released in Abuja by Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, who serves as the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, under the Office of the Vice President.
The upcoming forum, set to take place in Abuja from June 23 to June 27, 2025, is themed “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access and Affordable Financing for Africa.” According to Adekunle-Johnson, the newly constituted oversight committee will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of the event are meticulously planned and executed to ensure a successful hosting. The forum is expected to feature a wide array of activities, including expert paper presentations, panel discussions, sponsored side events, business exhibitions, networking opportunities, and MSME business pitching sessions. Additionally, awards will be presented to notable Nigerian entrepreneurs as part of the event’s highlights.
Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), has been appointed as the chairman of the oversight committee. The committee also includes key ministers such as those overseeing Industry, Trade and Investment; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Art, Culture and the Creative Economy; and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment. Other critical members include the heads of several federal agencies—namely, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the Bank of Industry (BOI), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Mr. Adekunle-Johnson will serve dual roles as the Host Country Coordinator and the Secretary of the Committee. The AU MSME Forum, established by the African Union Commission (AUC), is an annual initiative aimed at supporting the development of MSMEs across the continent. It is designed to encourage intra-African trade and build regional value chains. The forum’s hosting rotates among member nations, with previous editions held in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Namibia since its inception in 2022.