President Bola Tinubu has approved the composition of an oversight committee to coordinate Nigeria’s hosting of the 4th African Union (AU) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, scheduled to take place from 23rd to 27th June 2025 in Abuja.
The AU MSME Forum is a flagship initiative of the African Union Commission, first held in 2022, aimed at strengthening the MSME ecosystem across Africa and accelerating regional trade and value chain integration.
The theme of this year’s edition is “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa.” According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Nigeria is set to take centre stage in advancing economic discourse and charting a progressive path for small businesses on the continent.
Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), has been appointed as chairman of the oversight committee. Other members include the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, among others.
The forum is expected to attract delegates from across Africa and beyond, and will serve as a platform for policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and development partners to collaborate on practical solutions to support MSMEs.