By Murtala Muhammad
Over fifty Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from North East region of the country have been engaged by the Support to Potential and Existing Nature-Positive MSMEs (SPENM) Programme, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to compete in the global market.
The programme, implemented by the International Trade Facilitators Association (ITFA) and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), aims to ensure sustainable, nature-positive business practices.
Speaking to journalists at the opening of a two-day training session at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, ITFA Technical Adviser Dr Abel Owotemu revealed that the SPENM Programme has already trained over 100 participants from the North Central and North East regions.
Dr Owotemu, who also serves as an ITFA coach, noted that the initiative targets empowering 470 MSMEs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, adding that over 60% of attendees are existing business owners eager to adopt new skills to drive a non-oil export economy.
In his remarks, ATBU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibrahim Hassan Garba highlighted the university’s commitment to agri-business programmes, designed to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets among graduates.
He also disclosed the institution’s partnership with the Bank of Industry Opolo Innovation Hub, which provides a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.
Earlier, ITFA’s Director of Export Trade, Abdullahi Sidi-Aliyu, explained that the training would cover sustainable business model design, ensuring operations are both economically viable and environmentally friendly.
In an interview, one of the participants, Dr Chime Obodozie, appreciated the initiative, noting the vast potential of the global market for MSMEs.
Radio Nigeria reports that during the event, the participants were coached about fair trade, where some food processors among them exhibited their products for prospective buyers.
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