Economic Summit to Address SME Funding

• Economic Summit to Address SME Funding

The 23rd edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit will address among other issues, access to capital by the Small and Medium Enterprises sector of the economy.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, made this known at a media briefing on preparations for the summit in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that access to capital was one of the five pillars that the summit, which is being organised to discuss the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, would operate on.

The topic, according to him, is concerned with how Nigerians can create and explore strategic investment options, frameworks, models and business cases for unlocking the type of capital flows that create opportunities and jobs for the citizens.

He added that the summit would consist of sessions and start-ups pitching events, which would connect new ventures seeking to raise funds with potential investors.

Udoma said, “Eight selected early-stage start-ups that are registered in Nigeria and which have been doing business for no more than three years will be invited to pitch in front of venture capitalists and investors in order to create opportunities for Nigerian youths.

“It is expected that the session will also connect the eight start-ups with venture capitalists.”