By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) says all is now set for its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Summits targeted at addressing unemployment, crimes and other vices in the Niger Delta region.
Convener of the Summit, Mr Moses Siasia, in a statement in Abuja on Monday said the third edition of the summit holding at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, would further enhance MSME growth in the region.
He said that the 2023 submit with the theme: ‘’Building the Culture of Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness beyond Oil’’, would bring opportunities from various agencies and international organizations to the region.
Siasia said that event holding on Aug. 12, 2023, which coincided with the International Youth Day, had been creating enormous opportunities and growth for young MSME owners in the region.
He said that there were clear pieces of evidence that crude oil would not be the driver of economic growth in the future.
“Hence, the need to focus on emerging areas with new opportunities and potentials.
“Penitential such as in agriculture, Renewable Energy, Information Technology, and the knowledge-driven economy where MSMEs can thrive and provide enabling platforms for prosperity and sustainable development,’’ Siasia said.
He said that in spite of the poor management of MSMEs, high-interest loans from banks, corruption and inadequate infrastructure, the initiative had made sustainable impacts in the region over the years.
Siasia said that the many beneficiaries of past editions received grants to grow their businesses through which they grew their businesses and created employment opportunities for other prospective MSMEs in the region.
“At the inaugural edition of the Summit held in 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over 400 Niger Delta persons benefited from the NIRSAL Intervention Loan for small business owners in the area of Agriculture.
“Also the NDYP gave out grants to innovative businesses,’’ he said
Siaisia who said that participation would be strictly by registration, advised interested participants to apply online through https://forms.gle/9oqhmKW3Go7eGyMh7.
He said that participants of this year summit were expected to be between the ages of 20 and 45 years.
He said that 2023 summit would feature product exhibitions, grants, main-stage keynotes, panel discussions, interactive master sessions, and style breakout.
Others according to Siasia include business-to-business meetings, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities featuring outstanding line-up of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and business Leaders from top brands.(NAN)