Yemisi Izuora
The National President of NACCIMA, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu has described the launching of the N50bn Export Expansion Facility Program (EEFP) and Grant Management Portal designed for accessing the Export Development Fund (EDF) as a positive step toward addressing the challenges of Small and Medium Enterprise, SME’s.
She also commended Government on the initiative and called for efficient functioning of the Digital Portal to enable prompt and efficient access of Funds under the Facilities.
Hajiya Saratu a member of the Ministerial Steering committee was commenting on the launch of the EEFP, which was held on Monday 29th March under the supervision of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment and the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mr Olusegun Awolowo.
Hajiya Saratu described the launching of the Digital Management Portal as a practical positive step to ensure that MSMEs across the country which are the back bones of the economy can access stimulus Packages designed to save and create jobs, as concerted efforts continue to help those of them impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic get back on their feet as envisioned under the Economic Sustainability Plan of 2020.
She noted that it was truly significant that
this was the first time that the EDF was being funded since the creation of the NEPC Act; and described the development as worthy of note and commendable; because this is a case of walking the talk by Government, in the quest to work with other stakeholders particularly the private sector operators to significantly expand non-oil Export and the pursuit of the Zero Oil Plan. She was of the firm view that effectively and efficiently pursued, the EDF facility will certainly increase inflow of foreign Exchange and expand the diversification of the economy. The NACCIMA National President advised MSMEs to take advantage of the Facilities which will be processed through the System which was launched. She assured that NACCIMA members are being encouraged to tap into the opportunities under the Facility and called on other stakeholders to be part of the initiative which are some of the strategic options to pilot Nigeria out of recession and improve on recent gain.