The Katsina State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the facilitation of compliance with national regulatory standards and requirements.
The Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), Dr. Babangida Ruma, stated this during a statewide MSMEs Sensitization and Collaboration Programme held at the Entrepreneurship Resource Centre (ERC), Katsina.
The program was organised by the KASEDA in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),
The Director-General represented by the Technical Assistant to the Governor on Enterprise Development, Malam Nasiru Gambo noted that the sensitization programme was timely, considering the commitment of the present administration to promoting small and medium enterprises as a means of addressing unemployment in the state.
Malam Nasiru Gambo observed that registration with relevant regulatory bodies is important for MSMEs, as it enhances consumer confidence and creates opportunities for wider market access.
He stressed that the programme was particularly beneficial to indigenous entrepreneurs in the state, given the limited awareness of the responsibilities and services provided by regulatory agencies.
He therefore urged participants to pay close attention to the presentations in order to derive maximum benefit from the programme.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Director of Enterprise Development, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Gani, explained that the programme was organized to identify challenges facing MSMEs and explore practical solutions to ensure the sustainability and growth of small and medium-scale businesses in the state.
He added that the programme was also designed to strengthen the relationship between MSMEs and regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and SON, while creating a platform for direct engagement between business owners and the agencies.
Dr. Ibrahim Gani identified low awareness of registration procedures, inadequate knowledge of regulatory requirements, and logistics constraints as some of the major challenges facing MSMEs in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Katsina State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Malam Musa Muhammadu, commended KASEDA for organizing the programme.
He noted that many people have misconceptions about NAFDAC’s activities, stressing that the agency is always willing to support MSMEs in obtaining NAFDAC certification, as small businesses remain a key driver of economic development.
He explained that the agency follows established procedures to ensure that products meet health and safety standards before certification is granted.
Malam Musa Muhammadu further stated that obtaining NAFDAC certification would enhance the ability of MSMEs to access grants and loans from the Federal Government, banks, and other financial institutions.
On his part, the representative of the SON State Coordinator, Abdullahi Muhammad, outlined the procedures for registration with the organization and described the programme as an important platform for strengthening understanding and collaboration among MSMEs, NAFDAC, and SON.
He emphasized that business success is not determined by profit alone but also by the quality and standard of products and services offered. He therefore noted that regulatory agencies play a critical role in ensuring that business operators comply with established standards through proper registration and certification.
