Delegates from over 50 African countries are expected to gather in Abuja from June 23 to Friday, June 27, 2025, for the 4th African Union (AU) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum.
The forum focus on improving access to affordable financing, promoting digital transformation, and enhancing market access for small businesses.
The forum, hosted by the African Union Commission in partnership with the Nigerian government, aims to foster strategic partnerships and exchange ideas on intra-African trade and the development of small businesses across the continent.
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At a press conference held on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), said the principal objective is to empower MSMEs and strengthen policy frameworks for their development.
“The goal is to develop intra-African value chains and strengthen policies that will enable MSMEs to thrive across the continent,” he said, while calling on Nigerian stakeholders to leverage the forum to build networks for investment and market expansion.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the event as a sign that Nigeria is ‘rising again’ and open for global business.
He stated that President Bola Tinubu’s approval to host the forum reflects the administration’s commitment to repositioning the country economically.
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, noted that the event will positively impact Nigeria’s tourism and creative sectors, aligning with her ministry’s ‘Destination Nigeria’ initiative aimed at rebranding the country.
Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs and Secretary of the Organising Committee, announced that the forum will include high-level presentations, panel discussions, a tech showcase, product exhibitions, and networking opportunities. A highlight of the event will be the MSME Awards, where outstanding entrepreneurs will receive cash prizes, houses, and stores.
He emphasised that the forum aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr Tinubu’s administration, recognising MSMEs as a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.
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Chief Executives of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) also pledged their agencies’ support for the successful hosting of the forum.
The opening ceremony will take place at the State House Banquet Hall on June 23.
Technical meetings and product exhibitions will follow from June 24 to 26 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, while the grand finale and MSME Awards will return to the State House Banquet Hall on June 27.
