Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has called on financial institutions, government agencies, and private sector players to expand their support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
He made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving the 2025-2026 MSME report during the Nigerian MSMEs stakeholders meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Emphasising the critical role of MSMEs in economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, the Vice President urged stakeholders to leverage technology to strengthen the sector, especially for young Nigerians operating in the digital space.
“We have our jobs cut out for us. SMEDAN is doing an awesome job, so also is ITF. Every stakeholder here, from NAFDAC, to CAC, NITDA, Export Promotion Council, and NIPC, is putting in their best, and we are mightily proud of all of you,” he told participants at the meeting.
Senator Shettima encouraged both government agencies and private sector partners to harness Nigeria’s potential in digital services, agriculture, and other key areas that can benefit MSMEs. He asked them to take a cue from India, which generated $130 billion in 2025 from business process outsourcing alone.
“So, we need to really harness our potential in the digital space, in agriculture,” he added, noting that the opportunities in outsourcing are significant.
The Vice President also thanked stakeholders for their efforts in advancing MSMEs in Nigeria and assured them that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to support the growth of small businesses across the country.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the meeting as an important review of progress made by MSMEs over time. He said all key participants facilitating the success of the MSMEs programme were present to assess achievements and chart the way forward.
He revealed that over 250,000 jobs had been created through MSME-related initiatives, adding that more jobs are expected in the coming months.
The Minister also commended the Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, for bringing together stakeholders in MSMEs across Africa to Abuja.
He said the convergence was an opportunity to showcase Nigeria and discuss strategies for enhancing the development of the MSME sector on the continent.
Presenting the MSME report, the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Adekunle-Johnson, gave a brief overview of how the Renewed Hope Agenda under President Tinubu has repositioned MSMEs as a central pillar of national economic transformation and job creation.
He explained that the core focus in the past year had been on improving access to affordable financing, reducing operational challenges through shared infrastructure, strengthening market linkages, and institutionalising recognition frameworks that promote excellence and competitiveness.
Speaking on developments in 2025, he said access to funding had been expanded through MSME Clinics. According to him, the clinics serve as a bridge between the federal government, state governments, and small businesses, providing market visibility, opportunities for business formalisation, and instant on-site grants for outstanding businesses at each clinic.
On job creation, the presidential aide disclosed that more than 11 shared hubs had been deployed across the country in the past year, creating over 250,000 jobs nationwide.
Looking ahead to 2026, he said his office would focus on strengthening coordination with partner agencies and state governments. He added that priorities would include de-risking of funds, the National MSME Awards, sustainable job creation programmes, capacity development, and improved access to funding for small businesses.
In his goodwill message, the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Charles Odii, commended President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for “setting the blueprint for Small and Medium Enterprises growth in Nigeria.”
He said the shared facilities created for MSMEs by the Office of the Vice President had engaged many people, even late into the night, leading to more job opportunities. He added that “this is the first time the people have been been so fascinated about the policy of government.”
Managing Directors of the Corporate Affairs Commission, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council also highlighted how their agencies had supported thousands of MSMEs within the past year.
Representatives of Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and Wema Bank pledged continued partnership with the Office of the Vice President to ensure MSMEs receive the support they need, as stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to moving the Nigerian economy forward through small business development.
