Why my administration established N200bn MSME intervention fund – Tinubu

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained that his administration created the ₦200 billion intervention fund for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and manufacturers to enhance their competitiveness and address longstanding structural challenges hindering productivity.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday while declaring open the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31), Tinubu said the initiative aligned with his administration’s broader effort to strengthen the real sector, stimulate innovation, and foster inclusive growth.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said that beyond the 4.23 per cent GDP growth recorded in September 2025, his government’s reforms are beginning to produce measurable results across critical sectors, exceeding earlier forecasts from both multilateral institutions and domestic economic experts.

Tinubu noted that the success so far recorded is largely due to the confidence reposed in Nigerian economic professionals, whose technical insights have guided policy design and implementation.

“All our decisions have been guided by the pursuit of balance between economic logic and public expectation,” he said, reaffirming that his government remains committed to pragmatic policies that combine fiscal discipline with social impact.

Providing further details on the ₦200 billion fund, the President said it was designed to rekindle hope among poor, vulnerable, and unemployed Nigerians, particularly young people, by expanding access to loans, grants, and equity financing for small businesses and manufacturers.

He described the initiative as a key pillar of his administration’s drive to rebuild the productive base of the economy and ensure that growth translates into sustainable opportunities for citizens.

The 31st Nigerian Economic Summit, which brings together policymakers, business leaders, and development experts, focuses on strategies to accelerate industrial transformation and strengthen private sector participation in Nigeria’s long-term development agenda.