Nigeria is making significant strides to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating digital infrastructure that will enable these businesses to operate seamlessly across African borders. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this during the inauguration of the oversight committee for the upcoming 4th African Union (AU) MSME Forum, set to take place in Abuja from June 23 to 27.
Shettima highlighted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to building “digital highways and bridges” to integrate Nigerian MSMEs into the broader African market. “Africa is not short of ideas and digital innovation,” he said, emphasizing that over 83% of employment on the continent is in the informal sector, where MSMEs play a critical role.
The Vice President pointed to Nigeria’s alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement as a key policy framework supporting this vision. Nigeria has also established a Technology Export and Digital Trade Desk to help entrepreneurs export services and digital goods across Africa.
Major initiatives include the i-DICE Programme, a $617.7 million investment targeting digital and creative enterprises, and the 3 Million Tech Talent Programme, which aims to train Nigerian youths in coding, data science, and digital skills to drive economic transformation.
“The Tinubu administration is ready to lead in shaping Africa’s digital trade future,” Shettima said, adding that legal reforms are underway to make cross-border commerce more secure, scalable, and seamless.
The AU MSME Forum will bring together nearly 6,000 SMEs from across Africa, along with 145 partners worldwide, providing a platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and unlock new business opportunities. The event will conclude with the National SME Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to the sector.
Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and chairman of the organizing committee, described the forum as “a veritable platform for exchanging knowledge and ideas on MSME development.”
Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, assured that the committee is working to deliver a world-class event reflecting the government’s commitment to MSME growth.
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