As Nigeria marks this year’s Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises ( MSME) Day, Industry experts have urged state governments across the Niger Delta States to prioritize investments in information technology and micro-enterprise development.
The experts said that such investments would bring accelerated developments to the region while also empowering the youths economically.
This position was taken by some industry players at the just concluded 4th Niger Delta MSME Summit/Bootcamp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
One such expert, Dr Martins Fregene, Director of Agriculture, African Development Bank (AfDB), advised young MSME owners to pursue skills on how to access funding and financial management.
Fregene added that many lending banks are drawing back from giving loans to MSME owners because of a number of uncertain issues, including a lack of clear tax records. “Some of these banks are willing to lend, but they are afraid that MSMEs may not pay back,” he said.
Also speaking, Amb. Joe Keshi, Director-General of the BRACD Commission, decried the lack of government presence and support for platforms such as the Niger Delta MSMSE Summit which is carefully set up to build a culture of entrepreneurship among young people.
“Sooner or later, the government will not be employing people anymore. It is business that we will depend on,” Keshi who appeared as Special Guest at the event which also coincided with the 2024 World MSME Day, said.
While reeling out recommendations to grow MSMEs in Nigeria, Otuya Okecha, MD/CEO of Fibresol Nigeria Limited in his Goodwill Message, urged state governments and intervention agencies to create tech hubs to address digital illiteracy among MSME owners. “Over 60% of the Niger Delta population are young people. State governments must embrace Digital Stack Models to gather data of citizens”.
Moses Siasia, CEO Mosilo Group and Chairman of Heritage Times HT regretted that despite being the main economic mainstay of Nigeria, a lot is not happening in the Niger Delta region to empower young people.
Lamenting the lack of deliberate policies from state governments for the MSME Development, he said, “This is a purely private-sector initiative. We have done this for the past four years, we have seen the impacts made, and we will continue. Over the years, politicians have nourished young people in the Niger Delta region with failed promises.
“Leaders must deliberately create an atmosphere to give young people hope and a voice. But we will no longer wait for the government. This initiative shall be sustained with the few strategic partners that have encouraged us over the years. We must begin to create opportunities for young people”.
