James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Mariam Katagum, has reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government towards sustainable development of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Katagum, during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF) and the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Nigeria, led by the President Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF), Dr. Sidney Inegbedion, in Abuja, noted that the present administration had put in place various programmes, including Export Expansion Grant EEG, MSMEs Survival Fund and the National Diaspora Policy as part of efforts aimed at encouraging the growth of small scale businesses in the country.
NEPC hopeful of N156bn EEG backlog clearance Stakeholders have expressed concerns about the country’s poor non-oil exports, citing it as a major reason for the wide deficit in the balance of trade, as well as inadequate foreign exchange earnings. With N194 billion of the outstanding Export Expansion Grant (EEG) already settled via promissory notes from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has given assurance of the approval and settlement of the remaining N156 billion by the National Assembly. According to the NEPC, the backlog remains unsettled as it did not scale through the passage by the previous session of the National Assembly but expressed optimism that the ninth assembly would consider the settlement to promote non-oil exports.
Nigeria needs startups ecosystem to address future challenges ― Osibanjo
On
By Emmanuel Elebeke
The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, has identified the startup ecosystem as one of the vital tools in finding solutions to Africa’s various challenges.
He affirmed that these challenges will determine if the continent’s future as the next frontier for economic opportunities will fully be realised.
The VP made the assertion on Thursday at the Startup and Developer event organised by Google in Abuja.
Osinbajo, who was represented by Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the ideas of Start-Ups from inception has always being to impact, noting that the event brought relevant stakeholders together to collaborate and bring something new to the world or new to an industry.
FG launches N50bn Export Expansion Facility vanguardngr.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vanguardngr.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Industrialists and Manufacturers on Monday said the Naira 4 Dollar Scheme, an initiative by the Central Bank of Nigeria to encourage diaspora remittances would help stabilize the forex situation of the country.