The Federal Government has indicated that winners of the 2022 National MSME Awards would cart home cars and cash prizes for their outstanding and innovative initiatives during the year.
The Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs, Mr. Tola Adekunle-Johnson, who gave this hint during a chat with journalists in Abuja, disclosed that the rewards would be through government’s National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) clinics initiative.
He explained that the 5th edition of the National MSME Awards, which is scheduled to hold on June 27 this year to commemorate the 2022 World MSME Day, would provide an avenue for recognizing and supporting outstanding small businesses nationwide.
According to him, 10 new cars and other cash prizes are to be won by the participants.
Adekunle-Johnson explained: “The categories for this year’s awards include MSME award of excellence in agriculture, award of excellence in beauty, wellness and cosmetics and MSME award of excellence in creative arts.
“Others are MSME award of excellence in fashion and style, award in leather works, award in furniture and woodwork, award in manufacturing and award in tech and innovation driven Enterprise”, he added.
He advised MSMEs interested in the awards to visit the website www.msmeclinics.gov.ng and fill out their application, adding that the portal will open for applications by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday May 19, 2022 and will close on Sunday June 12, 2022.
On government’s sustained efforts to support MSMEs in the country, Adekunle-Johnson explained that this was being done by sustaining a reward programme initiated in 2018, amongst other initiatives.
He maintained that the National MSME Awards had positively impacted more than 600,000 directly and indirectly, thereby inspiring prospective business owners to strive for excellence.
In his remarks, Deputy Director, Engineering Design and Development, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, a participant, Mr. Obasi Ettu, explained that participants must ensure that their products met specification and remained competitive.
He said: “The product must be indigenous and we want to see it promote local content and we must ascertain that the participants have the facilities. We want to ensure that the products are truly Nigerian.”
