The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government towards the sustainable development of Nigerian Entrepreneurs.
The Minister made this known when a delegation from the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum( NEF) and Organisation of Women in International Trade(OWIT) led by the President Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF), Dr. Sidney Inegbedion paid a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.
Amb. Katagum stated that the present administration had put in place various programmes which included Export Expansion Grant EEG, MSMEs Survival Fund, National Diaspora Policy as part of efforts aimed at encouraging the growth of small scale businesses in the country.
She advised NEF and OWIT Nigeria to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area which commenced in January this year in order to enhance their business activities and boost the nation’s economy.
The Minister called on Nigerian Entrepreneurs to take advantage of its various laudable programmes on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs to enhance their productivity.
She expressed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate and support NEF and OWIT Nigeria in realizing their mandate most especially in the area of youth and women empowerment on micro, small and medium scale businessesEarlier in his address, the President of Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum NEF, Dr. Sidney Inegbedion said the purpose of their visit was to brief the Minister on the modalities for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed between NEF and OWIT Nigeria.
Dr. Inegbedion said the Organization which was established since 2010 is a private sector driven organisation whose services have focused on stimulating the economic development of Nigeria.
He added that NEF has over the years been providing capacity building and competency based leadership training for some Departments in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as part of its contributions to national economic development.
He added that NEF has also implemented effective management and leadership training towards Nigeria engagement in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA among others.
In her contribution, the President of Organization of Women in International Trade, OWIT, Nigeria, Blessing Irabor said OWIT Nigeria partnership with NEF and other relevant stakeholders was aimed at advancing Nigeria’s commitments to gender equality through International Trade and Investments.
Ms Irabor added that the association is looking forward to collaborate with the Ministry to genuinely build national prosperity and stability through comprehensive support for the internationalization of women owned businesses in Nigeria.
Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa Mrs.
Assistant Director Information.
