NASCE seeks UN’s support for nation’s SMEs, industries

The Nigerian Association of Small Scale Enterproses and Industrialist has solicited the support of the United Nations towards boosting the Small Scale and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Industrialist sectors in the country. The President of the association, Mr Solomon Daniel, made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja. Daniel, who is currently attending the ongoing 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, Qatar urged the inclusion of Nigerian SMEs among the beneficiaries of the planned intervention package. He said that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had adversely affected them, hence the need for the UN to salvage the situation from further escalation.

Daniel said “we are here as part of the delegates from Nigeria attending the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. We are calling on the economically viable organisations that are under the United Nations to support the Small Scale and Medium Enterprises in the under-developed countries. The UN Secretary-general said they are looking for assistance to support the under developed countries in the areas of education, health and women and empowerment.” Similarly, the Treasurer of the association, Mr Abubakar Tanko, said that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has pledged to support developing countries with $60 million. Tanko also said that the association had developed comprehensive documents that would be submitted to UN on how best to support the SMEs in Nigeria through the Federal Government.

“The UN is working assiduously to ensure that developed countries assist the less developed ones to overcome challenges of security, economy and climate change, among others,” he said. The conference, which holds from March 5 to 9, under the theme: “From Potential to Prosperity,” is expected to provide an opportunity to garner the support of the international community. The is to accelerate sustainable development in the Least Developed Countries (LCDs), as well as assist them make progress towards achieving prosperity.