BREAKING: Agric Enterprises Top Chart As 60,000 Entrepreneurs Apply For FG’s Awards
No fewer than 60,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs have registered their interest in the upcoming National MSMEs Award by submitting compelling videos to showcase their achievements and innovations.
The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSME, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Recall that on March 2, the government announced plans to reward innovative and resilient entrepreneurs who have excelled in their endeavours with houses, cars, and shops.
The portal for the submission of applications for the 2025 National MSME Awards opened on Friday, March 7, 2025, following a press conference by the Awards Committee where a new category for persons living with disability was announced.
The presidential aide said the MSMEs award is designed to commemorate the 2024 United Nations World MSMES Day as part of efforts to recognise and support outstanding small businesses in the country.
Providing updates on the award, the Special Adviser in a statement said agricultural-based enterprises have made the most submissions and are closely followed by enterprises in the Information and Digital Technology sector
“About three weeks into the submission of entries, over 60,000 applications from small business entrepreneurs across the country have been received with agricultural-based enterprises leading the pack and closely followed by enterprises in the Information and Digital Technology sector, the Creative Industry, Leatherworks, Furniture and Wood Work, Manufacturing and Fashion, Beauty and Cosmetics, and from persons living with a disability.
“It is pertinent to note that the applications received so far for this year’s competition have come from businesses operating in virtually every part of the country – from Lagos to Aba, Kaduna to Maiduguri, Makurdi to Birnin Kebbi, Damaturu to Abakaliki and many other locations across the country,” the statement read in part.
The presidential aide added that the huge interest shown by small enterprises across the country reflects the integrity and significance of the support and growth in the MSME space in Nigeria.
He also stated that feedback from the technical team is encouraging, but urged more eligible entrepreneurs to submit their entries.
“The incentives earmarked for this year’s awardees underscore the Federal Government and private sector commitment to transforming the MSME space in Nigeria, especially in recognition of MSMEs’ contribution to economic development and job creation.
“The feedback from the technical team as regards the submission of applications is encouraging, but more small enterprises are urged to leverage this great opportunity by sending in their entries as the portal remains open till April 7.
