Dr. Abdulrashid Yarima NASME President, Middle, Hon. Gaddafi M Asemanya Jnr, National Publicity Secretary, left, and Bashir Mohammed Rancass Secretary Yobe State NASME, right, during NASME International Women’s Day and AGM in Abuja.
By Anthony Maliki, Abuja
The National President of the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Dr. Abdulrashid Yarima said despite numerous challenges the association has achieved remarkable progress.
Dr. Yarima made the remarks in his second tenure post-election speech in Abuja, saying this was achieved due to the resilience and dedication by members.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the newly elected National Publicity Secretary of the association, Hon. Gadafi Mohammadu Asemanya Jnr.
The event took place on 18 May, 2024 where international women Day was celebrated, along side the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections to elect members of NASME.
According to the National President, members have championed the cause of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSMEs), advocating for better policies, and creating opportunities for growth and innovation.
He explained that as the new executive embark on a fresh tenure, it will continue to enhance advocacy efforts, ensuring that the voice of MSMEs is heard loud and clear at all levels of government.
Dr. Yarima pledged the executive will intensify capacity-building initiatives, providing NASME members skills and resources they need to thrive in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
Besides, he said that focus will also be on fostering stronger partnerships with government bodies, international organizations, and the private sector.
In the statement, Hon. Asemanya Jnr said it was an election that showed the confidence reposed on the national executives for doing well in the first tenure as majority of them were returned unopposed.
He said some achievements of the executive in the first tenure includes 2021 MSME Summit and Exhibition in December 2021 where it recorded the highest attendance in any NASME event, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) aggregation exercises, the International Women’s Day (IWD) midwifed in 2022 and NASME Youth Empowerment Conference organized in 2022.
Others are 25th Anniversary/Awards in 2022 where NASME presented awards of excellence to over 120 deserving awardees in the MSME space across the country, organization of the West Africa SME Exhibition in 2023, inauguration of the West SME Association in 2023 and monthly interactive sessions with NASME state chapter chairmen, women and youth coordinators.
In the area of business venture, the executive registered NASME Business Consult Ltd, registration of NASME Microfinance, over N10 million direct and indirect stake-holding in SMEDAN and Microfinance bank.
Besides, NASME engagement with UNIDO on investment, collaborated with MTN MoMo to onboard over 1000 members as merchants, facilitated incubation for 1000 NASME members, partnered NBTI to provide office accommodation nationwide for Nano and Micro membership categories, facilitated equipment for 27 Nano enterprises in the tailoring, saloon, welding and vulcanizers, facilitated online payments for registration and annual subscription with interswitch, collaborated with Development Bank of Nigeria in training our women and cooperated with Wema Bank in financial inclusion for nano and micro enterprises.
Also, NASME is in a working group with the Bank of Industry to develop a product for artisan members of in the six geopolitical zones organized by NEPC, facilitating a working capital loan from microfinance bank to interested members and participating in the National MSME clinic organized by the office of the Vice President.
The statement noted that the election was graced by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Development Bank of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC), Industrial Training Fund, (ITF), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry (BoI) and host others highlighting the government’s support for the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
Hon. Asemanya Jnr said their presence underscored the importance of the sector to the national economy and the government’s commitment to fostering a favourable business environment for SMEs.
He noted that the election process was conducted smoothly, adhering to the association’s guidelines and ensuring transparency and fairness.
On his part, Asemanya Jnr stressed that this is the first time a Benue State son is being elected in the national executive council of NASME and will ensure NASME is a household name in Nigeria and the globe.
He thanked the NASME family for returning Dr. Yarima as the National President and urged those who lost to close ranks for the betterment of the association.
Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice president Dr. Tope Fasua was present at the occasion.