NASSI urges FG to sign SMEDAN  Bill

 

The Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has urged the Federal Government to sign the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) bill to enable it operate more effectively.

Chief Solomon Vongfa, NASSI National President made the call on Friday in Abuja when he led a delegation of NASSI management to pay courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Vongfa said that signing the SMEDAN bill would boost the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country and project it for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

“The Nigerian membership to the AfCFTA agreement is a major challenge for Nigeria MSMEs because this sector is responsible to drive the nation’s economy through local content and innovation.

“This can only be achieved if we are prepared to compete with the international market otherwise we may lose out of AfCFTA.

“Finance and grant should be made available to the MSMEs in trillions for it to effectively reach the large numbers of MSMEs nationwide.

“Media advocacy and training is highly required as the MSMEs need to frequently inform its members and the public on current development in the sector and market demand.

“There is need to create MSMEs clusters across the nation, which will go a long way in promoting local content and wealth in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He said the aim of the visit was to reaffirm its commitment and cooperation with NAN as well as inform NAN management of its new leadership.

Vongfa, however, called for NAN’s support and partnership in building the country towards self reliant and competitiveness.

Responding, Alhaji Ibrahim Mammaga, NAN Acting Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, reiterated the agency’s commitment to promote government policies and developmental issues for National growth.

Mammaga expressed NAN’s readiness to enlighten Nigerians in a professional manner on political and socio-economic programmes of the government that would bring positive transformation and sustainable development.

“We have been doing that for more than 40 years and will continue to do our best in promoting your projects and programmes,’’ he said.

The Ag. MD said that NAN had a well established Economy Desk, which had been there since the establishment of the agency and aimed at promoting nation’s economy.

According to him, NAN has six zonal offices, 26 district offices and over 500 reporters across the country with effective communication facilities for wider and timely coverage.

Expressing NAN’s willingness to collaborate with the association, he thanked the association for recognising NAN’s role in boosting economic development in the country.

NASSI was established in 1978 as a Business Management Organisation (BMO) and Non-Governmental Organisation to promote activities of MSME’s in the country.

Picture caption:

From left: National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Chief Solomon Daniel; Acting Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ibrahim Mammaga and Managing Editor, NAN, Mr Chukwudi Ekezie, during the visit of NASSI delegation to NAN headquarters in Abuja on Friday (16/8/19).