As part of its support for the SMEs under the SME 1000 platform, Red Star Express sponsored 10 SMEs under the platform to attend the SME Tink Tank Platform (SMETT) SEED Conference. The conference was held last Friday at the Academy Inn where different SMEs were brought together to meet with industry leaders and motivational speakers who spoke on the topic ‘ Thriving in an Economic Storm’ . According to Sola Dawodu, the event’s convener, SEED means Sustainability , Economic and Enterpreneurship Development . Over 250 SMEs were in attendance while four speakers took turns to make presentations on the topic for the event. Among the speakers were Adenike Adeyemi (Executive Director, FATE), Olatunji Ope (CEO, Unlock Consulting), Nneka Okekearu (Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University), and Victor Ugorje (Lean Sigma Sensei). Presentations were also made by representatives of Remita , Emzor , Printivo , and the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through its Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), has initiated a programme in partnership with public and private sector institutions aimed at upgrading the financial literacy of micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Nigeria. A statement by UNIDO noted that the move is aimed at implementing United Nations’ third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III) which emphasizes the importance of industrialization in to sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and accelerated development in Africa. UNIDO ITPO Nigeria recently held a number of workshops on the use of UNIDO tools and methodologies for the preparation and appraisal of investment projects, both with private sector organizations and governmental agencies in the country. UNIDO said five such workshops were organised across Nigeria, one each in Lagos and Kano, while three were held in Abuja. “The aim of these w