Industry Minister, Owan-Enoh Highlights MSME Interventions, Calls For Tinubu, Otu 2nd Term Support

Industry Minister, Owan-Enoh Highlights MSME Interventions, Calls For Tinubu, Otu 2nd Term Support Breaking News Business & Economy Reports Industry Minister, Owan-Enoh Highlights MSME Interventions, Calls For Tinubu, Otu 2nd Term Support by Patrick November 2, 2026 0 Comments Share this now By Patrick Obia

The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan-Enoh, has highlighted various Federal Government interventions targeting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), saying the sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

Owan-Enoh stated this in Calabar while addressing business owners, supporters, beneficiaries and stakeholders during Manufacturing and MSME Support Roundtable engagement.

The minister, who also serves as Director of the Manufacturing and MSME Sector Mobilization Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, described MSMEs as the “economy” of Nigeria, urging business owners to take pride in their contribution to national development.

According to him, about 96% of businesses in Nigeria are MSMEs, while the sector contributes about 48% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and about 87% to employment.

He said the engagement marked the first public outing of the Manufacturing and MSME Directorate since its inauguration.

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The Minister said Cross River had benefited from several Federal Government and state-level initiatives designed to support businesses, including training programs and interventions involving agencies such as the Bank of Industry, NEXIM Bank and SMEDAN.

He also highlighted the Federal Government’s N200 billion MSME intervention program, which includes grants and financing targeted at nano businesses, MSMEs and manufacturers, adding that a previous town hall meeting in Calabar on the program similarly identified the N200 billion intervention as a financing pipeline for businesses.

Owan-Enoh said Cross River beneficiaries had received support through various programs, including an MSME intervention program established through the John Owan-Enoh Foundation.

According to him, about 2,000 people across the three senatorial districts of Cross River benefited from the program after undergoing training.

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He pointed to initiatives around skills development, manufacturing and value addition, particularly in the cocoa sector.

The former minister of Sports said the Federal Government’s cocoa value-addition efforts were relevant to Cross River because of the state’s position as one of Nigeria’s major cocoa-producing states.

He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with a South Korean team and the ministry over the manufacture of electric vehicles in Nigeria, referencing ongoing efforts to establish an automated training center, and the facility is expected to be completed and commissioned soon.

While highlighting the interventions, Owan-Enoh linked the programs to the political choices ahead of the 2027 elections, urging Cross River business owners and beneficiaries of government programs to support President Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

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He argued that federal government appointments and interventions had enabled him to facilitate some of the programs benefiting residents of Cross River.

“When you talk about an election, talk about the next election that is coming,” he said, arguing that President Tinubu’s administration was represented in Cross River through him and other government officials delivering programs to residents.

The Industry Minister urged beneficiaries of MSME interventions to support the administration’s policies, saying that thousands of beneficiaries of programs implemented through the state and federal governments could become advocates for the initiatives.

His remarks came amid intensified political mobilization by the APC in Cross River ahead of the 2027 general elections. On November 1, Owan-Enoh also called on APC supporters to work towards securing all 18 local government areas for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in the next election.