Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Northern Nigeria are set for a major lift as local and international investors announced over $10 billion in new commitments to drive growth in mining, agriculture, and power value chains.
The pledges were unveiled at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) in Abuja, bringing together governors, federal ministers, and private sector leaders to chart a new economic course for the region.
According to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the initiative will open access to finance, infrastructure, and markets for small businesses that play key roles in regional trade and production networks.
"The private sector is ready to lead growth, but SMEs are the backbone. We're prioritising inclusive investment that connects big capital to small enterprise," said Professor D.D. Sheni, Director-General of NEF, at the closing session.
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The new Northern Nigeria Economic Development Council (NNEDC) was inaugurated to coordinate implementation, ensuring SMEs benefit through capacity-building, business clusters, and supplier linkages to larger industries.
International partners from Turkey, India, Canada, and Saudi Arabia also expressed readiness to invest in SME-driven projects focused on renewable energy, mechanised farming, and value-added mineral processing.
The NEF pledged quarterly progress reports to ensure transparency, job creation, and measurable impact — with a clear focus on helping northern entrepreneurs scale their businesses and compete globally.
