Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is streamlining its legal frameworks to support more efficient and secure cross-border trade across the continent.
He made the remark on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the oversight committee for the upcoming Fourth African Union (AU) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, scheduled to hold from June 23 to 27.
The committee was approved by President Bola Tinubu to ensure the successful hosting of the forum.
According to Shettima, the current administration is committed to positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s digital trade transformation.
“We’ve reformed, we’ve invested, and we’re committed to seeing this change through,” he affirmed.
“This forum is indispensable. It provides the blueprint, the platform, and the partnerships that will empower African MSMEs to become the heartbeat of our economic renewal,” he said.
The Vice President emphasized that the administration had taken bold steps to build digital infrastructure to connect MSMEs across Africa.
He noted that more than 83 percent of employment in Africa lay within the informal sector, and the continent was rich in ideas and digital innovation, providing a unique opportunity to compete globally.
He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Negotiating Forum and alignment of national policies on investment, digital trade, and competition.
He also mentioned the creation of a Technology Export and Digital Trade Desk to support Nigerian entrepreneurs in exporting digital goods and services.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chair of the organizing committee, Sen. Ibrahim Hadeija, said the forum would facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration on MSME development across Africa.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris noted that Nigeria hosting the event reflected growing international confidence in the country.
Sen. John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry and committee member, lauded the administration for prioritizing MSME growth, acknowledging their vital role in gross domestic product (GDP) and national development.
He assured that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure a successful event.
Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSME, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, who serves as committee secretary, pledged to deliver a world-class forum that reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment.
He confirmed that preparations were on track for the opening ceremony on June 23.
