MSME census to boost Nigeria’s industrial growth in 2025 – FMITI

Nigeria’s quest for accelerated industrial growth is set to receive a significant boost in 2025, as the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) prepares to conduct a nationwide census of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The exercise, aimed at providing a data-driven roadmap of MSMEs across the country, is expected to equip policymakers with vital data to inform targeted interventions and support the growth of this critical sector.

According to FMITI’s 2025 outlook report released recently, John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry shared his vision for the industrial sector, focusing on competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth.

“My commitment as an honorable is to steer Nigeria’s Industrial landscape towards global competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth. Therefore, one of my key priorities is to expand value addition in agriculture to position Nigeria as a global powerhouse in agro-industrial production,” he said.

Among the ministry’s priorities is unlocking the potential of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan to foster local manufacturing. He highlighted plans to expand the Special Agro-Processing Zones and revitalise the Cotton, Textile, and Garment sectors to enhance exports creating millions of jobs.

Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment described 2025 as a pivotal year for the country’s economic diversification efforts, promising measurable impacts through policy reforms and strategic initiatives.

Read also: Here’re three focus areas for FMITI in 2025

“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment have commenced a new chapter in driving Nigeria’s economic diversification by implementing targeted policies and reforms to accelerate industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation,” Oduwole said.

She added that the ministry will remain focused on strengthening trade policy implementation, fostering private-sector competitiveness, and ensuring businesses thrive in local and global markets.

“Our goal is to facilitate the creation of wealth, productive jobs, and shared prosperity for all Nigerians. FMITI’s initiatives would focus on three critical areas: economic diversification, trade revenue growth, and investment mobilisation,” she said.

Oduwole added that FMITI will accelerate industrialisation by engaging initiatives including rehabilitating export processing zones, prioritising intellectual property protection, and promoting tech and artificial intelligence for trade and investment.

According to the FMITI 2025 outlook, the ministry aims to ensure exportable food products meet international safety standards in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Further, the ministry noted it plans to revise the country’s trade and investment strategies to support an export-led economy.

Oduwole emphasised the African Continental Free Trade Area to champion trade and enter preferential trade agreements with key countries to boost foreign exchange earnings.

She stated that the ministry’s efforts would focus on retaining domestic investors, modernising the regulatory framework, establishing sub-national One-Stop Investment Centers, and launching an investment portal to track and promote investment flows holistically.

Oduwole assured stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to transparent communication and collaboration, adding that FMITI will share periodic updates on its performance, as independently verified by the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit.