Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored stakeholders, including financial institutions, government agencies and the private sector, to broaden their support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
Emphasising their vital role in economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction, he urged them to leverage technology to strengthen the MSME sector, particularly for young Nigerians operating in the digital space.
The Vice President made the call on Tuesday while receiving the 2025–2026 MSME Report at the Nigerian MSME Stakeholders’ Meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“We have our jobs cut out for us. SMEDAN is doing an awesome job, and so 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.
Urging government agencies and private sector partners to harness the nation’s potential in the digital economy, agriculture and other key sectors that can benefit MSMEs, VP Shettima encouraged them to learn from India, which generated $130 billion in 2025 from business process outsourcing alone.
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He noted that the opportunities in the outsourcing sector are enormous.
“So, we need to really harness our potential in the digital space, in agriculture,” the VP said.
The Vice President thanked stakeholders for their efforts in advancing MSMEs in Nigeria and assured them that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would do everything possible to ensure the growth of small businesses across the country.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris commended the Vice President, describing the meeting as ‘an appraisal of the progress made by MSMEs over time.’
Idris stated that all participants and stakeholders driving the MSME programme were present to assess its achievements, revealing that more than 250,000 jobs had been created, with additional employment opportunities underway.
The Minister also praised the Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, for bringing together MSME stakeholders from across Africa in Abuja to showcase Nigeria’s progress and chart a path towards strengthening the sector on the continent.
Presenting the report, the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Adekunle-Johnson, outlined 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 over the past year, the focus had been on improving access to affordable finance, reducing operational challenges through shared infrastructure, strengthening market linkages, and institutionalising recognition frameworks that promote excellence and competitiveness.
On developments in 2025, he noted that “access to finance had been expanded through MSME Clinics, which serve as a bridge between the Federal Government, state governments and small businesses, creating market visibility, opportunities for business formalisation and access to instant on-site grants for outstanding enterprises at each clinic.”
On job creation, he disclosed that more than 11 shared hubs had been deployed in the past year, generating over 250,000 jobs nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), 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 established by the Office of the Vice President had engaged citizens, even late into the night, creating more employment opportunities. He added that “this is the first time the people have been so fascinated about the policy of government.”
The Managing Directors of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) also highlighted how their respective agencies had supported thousands of MSMEs over the past year.
Representatives of Access Bank, Zenith Bank and Wema Bank reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with the Office of the Vice President to ensure that MSMEs receive the necessary support, as stakeholders continue to play their respective roles in advancing the Nigerian economy.