NACCIMA Urges MSMEs To Take Advantage Of N50bn EEFP, EDF Facilities

NACCIMA Precident, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu

The National President of NACCIMA, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu, has advised MSMEs to take advantage of the launching of the N50 billion Export Expansion Facility Program (EEFP) and Digital Management Portal designed for accessing the Export Development Fund (EDF).

NACCIMA President who described the launch as welcome a development 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.

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 recently 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 to help those of them impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic get back on their feet as envisioned under the Economic Sustainability Plan 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, describing the development as worthy of note and commendable.

She said the launch 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, even as she expressed optimism that if effectively and efficiently pursued, the EDF facility will certainly increase inflow of foreign Exchange and expand the diversification of the economy.