Minister of State for MSMEs Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum has urged the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) who were unable to emerge as winners in the 2020 MSMEs national awards to brace up to hard work and persistence in the bid to excel.
She hailed all the finalists, who had joined the award ceremony virtually, from different locations across the nation and also congratulated this year’s winners for their outstanding performance.
Amb. Katagum commended the relentless efforts of the relevant stakeholders within the MSMEs space who had made it possible to actualize this year’s event in spite of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Katagum said: “On behalf of all the MSMEs across the country, I would like to wholeheartedly thank President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, for their insistence, despite the social restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 Pandemic, that this year’s National MSME Awards should go ahead through virtual channels.
“This sector plays a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth and providing employment to vulnerable groups such as the youth, women and the poor. Therefore, this forms the bases for the commitment and sustained interest by the Federal Government of Nigeria in repositioning the sector for efficiency, growth and development.
“It is gladdening that the impact of our work in “Ease of Doing Business” is gradually being felt by businesses, small and large; its success has allowed us to follow up with the MSMEs Clinics and the annual MSMEs Awards like the one we are holding today”.
She revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria continuously ensures policies and programmes towards MSMEs development are deliberately crafted to yield the desired output of growth and development.
“This means MSMEs across the country are once again given the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for their creativity, steadfastness and diligence towards their different chosen businesses within the last one year.
“I must also pay tribute to the numerous MSME Associations across the country and our past National MSME Award winners, who are now MSME Clinic Ambassadors for constantly promoting our MSME initiatives at their various events”, she added.
