Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has been honoured with a National Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Award by the Office of the Vice President on World MSME Day. This recognition is for his remarkable efforts to boost the MSME sector in Enugu State.
The award was presented at this year’s National MSME Awards held at the Aso Presidential Villa on Thursday. Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, presented the award on behalf of the Vice President. He praised Governor Mbah’s leadership, noting his innovative approach and strong IT skills, which he applies to governance in Enugu State. Senator Hadejia emphasized that Governor Mbah understands the significant role MSMEs play in employment, productivity, and economic activity.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Mbah expressed deep gratitude to the Office of the Vice President for acknowledging Enugu State’s efforts in supporting MSMEs. He called MSMEs the “lifeblood” of economic development and stressed that their success relies on careful policies that make doing business easier. Governor Mbah believes that strong MSMEs are essential for government success because they create jobs and reduce unemployment.
Governor Mbah outlined his administration’s goal to grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within the next four to eight years. This ambitious target is closely linked to the health of MSMEs. To support small businesses, the Enugu SME Centre and Office of Digital Economy have been established, with a commitment to train 40,000 youth annually in digital and vocational skills.
His administration has also set up a N1 billion Venture Capital Fund under the soon-to-be-launched Enugu State & SMEDAN Joint Matching Funds for Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. This fund aims to stimulate MSME growth in the state. Additional initiatives include the Enugu State Fashion and Garment Hub, which has trained 5,000 youths in fashion skills over three years, and the Enugu Skill Acquisition Masterclass, providing vital resources and insights to digital entrepreneurs and startups.
