Nigeria is set to welcome over 50 African countries as it hosts the 4th African Union (AU) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum in Abuja from June 23 to 27, 2025. The high-profile event will convene government officials, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors to address key challenges facing small businesses across the continent—including limited access to finance, digital transformation, and barriers to market expansion.
Organised by the African Union Commission, the forum aims to bolster the role of MSMEs in driving intra-African trade, strengthening value chains, and accelerating the continent’s economic growth.
Speaking at a press briefing at the State House, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, said the event would be pivotal in forging strategic partnerships that empower MSMEs. “The principal objective is to empower MSMEs, develop intra-African value chains, and strengthen policies for sustainable development,” he noted.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, highlighted the forum as a turning point in Nigeria’s global economic re-emergence. “This is one of the first platforms to show the world that Nigeria is rising again and open for business,” he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to positioning the country as a regional investment hub.
Adding to the optimism, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, expressed confidence that the forum would elevate Nigeria’s tourism and creative industries, aligning with the “Destination Nigeria” campaign aimed at rebranding the country through culture and creativity.
Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs and Secretary of the Organising Committee, disclosed that the forum would feature a dynamic agenda of keynote presentations, tech showcases, exhibitions, and panel discussions, designed to offer opportunities for knowledge exchange and investment.
The forum’s centerpiece, the MSME Awards, will recognize outstanding African entrepreneurs with cash prizes, retail stores, and housing units. “The President’s approval to host this event reflects his belief in the critical role MSMEs play in job creation, economic growth, and poverty reduction—key pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
National institutions such as SMEDAN, NEXIM, and NEPC have pledged their full support to the success of the forum.
Schedule Highlights:
- Opening Ceremony: June 23 at the State House Banquet Hall
- Technical Sessions & Exhibitions: June 24–26 at the Abuja Continental Hotel
- MSME Awards & Grand Finale: June 27 at the State House Banquet Hall
The forum represents a landmark opportunity for Africa’s small businesses to connect, innovate, and grow within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader development goals.
