The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting small companies in Nigeria and throughout West Africa.
Mrs Massandje Toure- Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, stated this while receiving an award of excellence from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASMEs) in Abuja on Saturday.
The award was presented as part of the ongoing 2023 West Africa SMEs Exhibition.
Toure- Litse was honored for her involvement and support to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in West Africa.
While reiterating ECOWAS commitment to continue partnering with NASMEs to boost small businesses, she expressed her pleasure at receiving the award.
“That is the result of all the interests that ECOWAS shows in that segment of our economy in all our countries.
“Development of SMEs is a way to really empower women and youth and to create jobs. And it is the cognisance of the work of my team.
“And it is really an opportunity for me as a commissioner, to reiterate the fact that ECOWAS will in the years to come, continue to work to attain this objective.
“Of helping more and more SMEs integrate the formal economy and create jobs for women, for youths in usage of the internet for developing more trade volumes between our countries,” she went on to say.
According to the commissioner, ECOWAS has more than 300 million people spread across 15 countries.
“It’s a big market, and we definitely need to take those opportunities, those business opportunities by assisting SMEs,” Toure- Litse added.
Earlier, NASMEs President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Abdulrashid Yerima, recognized its partners, which included ECOWAS, SMEDAN, the Deputy Speaker, and the Lhuillier Office.
“Today, we honor the ECOWAS Commissioner for her outstanding contributions to the development of MSMEs in the West African region.”
Read also:
- Apply Now: Africa deep tech challenge 2025
- Meta launches Llama startup program to boost AI innovation
- APPLY NOW: Booking Staff
- APPLY NOW: Accountant
- Nigeria’s reforms gaining ground as revenues rise, debt falls
- APPLY NOW: Litigation Lawyer
“We appreciate her and her commission’s sponsorship of this Maiden event which we intend to hold annually going forward.”
The president underlined that the N1 billion Women and Youth Empowerment Fund established by the NASME would be expanded to other West African countries.
“We are bringing in our West African brothers and sisters to participate in this empowerment program.”
“We are also bringing in new international partners such as the International Trade Centre, Nigerian Police Micro Finance Bank, Bank of Industry, Sterling Bank, and others.”
On the beneficiaries, he said they would include graduates, non-graduates, nano and micro business owners and those in the digital innovation technology.
Dr Yerima said the objective of the fund was to support the green and digital economies in the country.
Discover more from SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
