Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state to embrace collaboration as a strategy for business growth, innovation, and improved livelihoods.
The governor made the appeal on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital, during the maiden Nasarawa Business Empowerment Summit, organised by serial entrepreneur and founder of the NK Foundation, Kunkwle Nghargbu-Adokwe, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, Sule said small businesses often thrive better when they work together.
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“Collaboration is a necessity when we are talking about small and medium scale enterprises. When we come together, we share ideas and define purpose. Growth comes from togetherness—in business, in work, in leadership.
“It is not enough to say you want to collaborate; you must partner with people who have the intention, capacity and sustainability to make the business grow,” he said.
The summit, themed “Collaboration as a Means of Strengthening Small and Medium Scale Enterprises,” brought together more than 500 entrepreneurs across different sectors.
Convener of the event, Nghargbu-Adokwe, said the initiative was borne out of Nigeria’s development challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and inequality, which disproportionately affect young people who make up over 60 percent of the nation’s population.
She explained that the summit aimed not only to inspire and train young entrepreneurs but also to directly empower at least 20 small business owners with cash support, sewing machines, and other startup tools.
“Through knowledge sharing, networking, and mentorship, we want to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and information they need to launch and scale successful businesses,” she said.
“Our goal is to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters job creation, innovation, and economic growth in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.”
The Managing Director of the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi, praised the initiative, noting that it aligned with the governor’s vision to make the state a hub for entrepreneurship.
Also speaking, Dr. Vincent Paul, a senior lecturer in Entrepreneurship Studies at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, outlined strategies for SMEs to leverage collaboration. These include cooperative buying groups, technology integration, skill-sharing, market intelligence exchange, and formalised business agreements.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan-Liman—represented by Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim—commended the convener for her commitment to uplifting small businesses. She encouraged entrepreneurs to explore non-conventional loan options to strengthen their operations.
