Agency reiterates commitment to support entrepreneurs to boost their businesses
By Vivian Emoni
The Abuja Enterprises Agency (AEA) has reiterated its commitment to support entrepreneurs to promote business growth, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Dr Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, the Acting Managing Director, of the agency said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe said that the agency would continue to collaborate with various partners, both locally and internationally to facilitate access to new markets and promote investment opportunities in the city
“The agency is committed to fostering business growth in the FCT by providing support to entrepreneurs, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“We will continue to provide innovative solutions and support services to businesses of all sizes, focusing on promoting sustainable economic growth and creating opportunities for all,’’ he said.
The AEA boss said that the agency’s programmes were in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He added that the infrastructure revolution by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, were the prime reasons for the growth of the MSMEs and attraction of investment into the FCT.
The acting manging director noted that the FCT Minister was offering the agency adequate support by providing the much needed enabling environment to entrepreneurs and business operators to thrive.
He disclosed that the agency had established a MSMEs One Stop Shop at the AEA Complex, which was inaugurated in 2017 programme.
According to him, the programme is to promote small scale businesses in the FCT.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe said the MSMEs one-stop shop was a government initiative designed to facilitate interactions between MSMEs and regulatory agencies, offering a convenient platform for accessing business services and support,
“The advantage of the MSMEs one-stop shop is that it houses all the relevant regulatory agencies of our government that have one thing or the other to do with the running of small and medium-scale enterprises.
“The idea is to get them to understand the need not only to do registration, but pay taxes, be regulated and to standardise their products and services,’’ he said.
To this end, Ugwuada-Ezirigwe said that the agency was working on the forth-coming 2025 Abuja Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Expo, adding that the aim was to provide market access and attract more investors to the country.
He explained that the SMEs Expo was designed by the agency to provide a platform and an opportunity for businesses operating in the FCT and other states to showcase their products.
He said that the Expo would also create the much needed awareness, market opportunities for networking with other players, not just in the SMEs sector but the industry at large.
According to him, since the first edition of the Expo in 2016, an Impact Assessment Report of the agency released in 2023 showed that 1,127 exhibitors accessed more than 5,000 market opportunities.
“More than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs with a total of N567 million worth of deals were created and facilitated too.
“This year’s event aims to provide a platform for SMEs to exhibit their products and services, network with industry leaders, and access business advice and opportunities.
“It is an exhibition of products and services. The services here are not restricted only to Abuja. The operators are also outside the FCT,” he said.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe disclosed that the 2025 event scheduled to hold between May 30 and June 1, at the Jabi Lake Park was the 5th edition.
“It is a three-day programme featuring exhibitions, business matching, workshops, industry days and a talent exhibition.
“It will also provide opportunities for business operators within and outside the FCT and attract more investors into Nigeria at large, in other words, making Abuja the investment capital of Africa,’’ he said.
He also said that the expo would attract some financial sectors, production and manufacturing sector as well as agro-allied businesses among others.
The AEA boss said that the agency was collaborating with other relevant agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
“The agency is also working with some banks to ensure that the programme is successful,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
Published By
Has also recently published
Economy/BusinessJune 8, 2025Economy back on track – Bagudu
PoliticsJune 8, 2025June 12: President Tinubu to confer National Honours on select legislators
Defence/SecurityJune 8, 202574% inmates captured in ongoing NIN registration – NCoS
MetroJune 8, 2025Sanwo-Olu lauds Tinubu as Lagos gets additional rail coaches
