At 25th annual lecture, award night, NASME pledges development of hubs across Nigeria

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Anthony Maliki

In order to further boost economic development in the country, the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) is developing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) hubs across states of the country.
NASME President, Engineer Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima made this known in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the 25th Annual lecture and Award night of the organization.
As such, he called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to assist NASME to establish one.
Dr. Yerima noted that MSMEs remain the backbone of the country’s survival and NASME shall continue to drive Nigeria forward and with sustained effort to make our businesses profitable and beneficial to all.
According to him, the anniversary celebration speaks of their commitment to the sustainable development of micro, small and medium businesses in Nigeria.
The President pointed out that with a membership of about 5.1 million across the 36 states and the FCT, NASME is not relenting with bringing into its fold more youths and women through our youth and women programmes.
He also said the body has initiated conformity assessment and clean energy technologies through NASME Quality Assurance Limited in partnership with UNIDO and other stakeholders in order to enhance competitiveness of MSMEs in Nigeria and elsewhere.

He thanked institutional partners, corporate, affiliate and individual members who in one way or the other contributed immensely to the success of NASME in the past 25 years.

“We are also grateful to the governments and their agencies at the national, state and local government levels for their support and interventions through grants, loans and policies towards the development of NASME,” Dr. Yerima stressed.
Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom was Chief Host at the occasion while the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director was represented by a director in the organization, Mrs. Chineye Ankwe.

Awards were given to Development Bank of Nigeria as the most impactful bank for SMEs, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, SMEDAN, Corporate Affairs Commission, Fidelity Bank, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, MTN, Bank of Industry and Wema Bank.

Chairmen of state NASME present at the ceremony included those of Benue, Rivers, Anambra, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Niger, Lagos, Oyo, FCT and hosts, Akwa Ibom.