A former President of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Alhaji Garba Ibrahim, has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to work more closely with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen structural support for the sector. He said this collaboration is critical if Nigeria intends to unlock sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at the 28th NASME MSME Conference in Abuja, Alhaji Ibrahim emphasized the need for deeper interventions at the grassroots.
“If Nigeria truly wants MSMEs to thrive, then support must start from the local government level,” he said. “We need stronger structural backing, not just small interventions. SEC must work with MSMEs to build pathways that help them formalize, expand, and eventually scale.”
He noted that without long-term financing, enabling regulations, and proper business development support, MSMEs will struggle to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s growth ambitions.
The National President of NASME, Dr. Abdulrasheed Yarima, encouraged small business owners to leverage existing partnerships and platforms provided by the association, development agencies, and financial institutions.
“Access to finance, market access, as well as quality and standardization remain the biggest challenges confronting the MSME sector,” Yarima said. “But opportunities exist. Entrepreneurs must step forward and take advantage of them.”
He urged MSMEs to pay attention to product quality, certification, and export readiness so they can compete within regional trade frameworks.
The North Central Vice President of NASME, Dr. Prince Ayodeji Tajudeen, who is the Local Organizing Committee Chairman, described the conference as a successful convergence of entrepreneurs and policymakers. He noted that the turnout—despite the economic situation—shows the determination of small businesses to grow.
“This year’s event achieved its objective of uniting stakeholders to address the pressing issues facing nano, micro, and small businesses,” he said. “The enthusiasm we saw highlights the readiness of MSMEs to scale up.”
The Kogi State Chairman of NASME, Umar Ahmed Tijani, said the organization had spread across nineteen local government areas of the State and that many members had received the Bank of Industry five million Naira intervention fund for their various businesses.
The FCT NASME Secretary, Comrade Ali Paul explained that membership drive of the Chapter was yielding positive results.
He called for more benefits for his members.
Development partners present at the event—including UNIDO, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)—pledged continued support for MSME development, industrialization, and value chain expansion. They also highlighted the importance of sustainable energy transitions for long-term competitiveness.
The conference concluded with renewed calls for improved market access, increased financing opportunities, and capacity-building initiatives to enable MSMEs to drive inclusive economic growth.
