The Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo says many items produced by Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are export-ready.
Awolowo was speaking at a mini exhibition of some locally-made products by selected MSMEs nominated for the MSME award held at the NEPC, headquarter Abuja, yesterday.
“Having gone to some states for the MSMEs Clinic, the Presidency decided that those we have seen, lets create a reward system for them. That will also help them attract investors to their various businesses. What we have seen so far, i’m really amazed at the amount of creativity, ingenuity that Nigerians have and that there is a future for this country aside from oil. Most of the products we have seen here today are export ready.”he said.
Awolowo said the council supports MSMES during the export clinics bytraining them on the basics of export.
While responding to questions from journalists, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) Abubakar A. Bello, said the government was aware of the problem of access to finance faced by many MSMEs.
“We hear that access to finance is the problem of most MSMEs . Government is aware of it and that is why the development banks are all part of the agencies involved in the MSMEs clinic. Bank of Industry, Development Bank Nigeria, Nexim Bank, Bank of Agriculture are part of this. As far as funding for MSMEs are involved , we listen to it. We are assisting to see that they get funding to boost their businesses.”
On the MSME award which will hold at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa today, the Special Assistant on MSMEs and the Coordinator National MSMEs Clinic in the Office of the Vice President, Mr Tola Adekunle Johnson said people that are doing things the right way are going to be supported by the government.
“Being recognised by the Presidency through this awards is going to be a motivation for the MSMEs”. he said
One of the nominees for the MSME award for excellence in creative arts category and the CEO of Oludidit, Banke Masunminu said the recognition being given to MSMSs through the award is a good step.
“People need to see what you are doing before they support you. This exhibition is an opportunity to see what we are doing. We spoke to the NEPC and they are looking at how they can take our product to the international market.” she said.
