. To strengthen capacity of Nigerian manufacturers, MSMEs
To promote clean energy technologies for sustainable start-ups and small medium enterprises (SMEs’) development in Nigeria, the United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under its Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) is set to support 75 Cleantech entrepreneurs.
During the Project Inception Workshop held in Lagos, the GCIP was kick-started to address market and policy shortcomings that prevent the emergence, deployment and adoption of cleantech solutions in the long-term, thus enabling low and medium-income countries to leapfrog to greener economies.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the GCIP is implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with Co-Creation Hub and the Federal Government, represented by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
Bosun Tijani, Chief Executive Officer of Co-Creation Hub, the Secretariat of GCIP Project Steering Committee, noted that the programme is targeted towards creating a strong ecosystem that prioritises the development of innovation for clean technology in Nigeria.
He argued that with adequate support and efforts towards cleantech through innovation, similar to the development of Fintech, more jobs would be created and companies that will change the future of energy would emerge in the country.
Junior Professional Officer, Department of Energy Climate Technology and Innovation Division, Luca Longo, speaking on the project said the GCIP’s intervention is based on three carefully designed programmatic pillars.
These include bringing transformative cleantech solutions to the market; building, strengthening and connecting cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem; and program coordination and coherence.
The programme is targeted towards creating a strong ecosystem that prioritises the development of innovation for clean technology in Nigeria.
Longo noted that with GCIP Nigeria focusing on cleantech start-ups and SMEs working on exciting and disruptive solutions, the project would provide added value for domestic economic and industrial development by bridging the gap between cleantech innovators and investors, thus paving the way for new business opportunities.
He listed the GCIP focus areas as energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste beneficiation, green buildings, transportation and Advanced material and chemical.
Manufacturers, MSMEs’ training
In a relation development, UNIDO says it will collaborate with the Nigerian government to strengthen the capacity of indigenous manufacturers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Chief Technical Advisor, at UNIDO, Jarl Hansstein, said on Friday in Abuja that the Nigerian government has initiated a project under the UN COVID-19 Response Basket Fund, aimed at strengthening MSMEs to produce high quality personal protective equipment (PPEs).
He said the fund will also strengthen manufacturers and MSMEs to produce healthcare products like clothing, facemasks, disposal surgical marks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other protective items.
The project is being implemented with the technical assistance of UNIDO in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), among others.
He said the objective of the project is to contribute to the increasing resilience of MSMEs in the country in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, and also support employment generation, improve supply chains as well as promote transformative economic recovery and growth.
The objective of the project is to contribute to the increasing resilience of MSMEs in the country in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, and also support employment generation, improve supply chains as well as promote transformative economic recovery and growth.
He said the project will maintain access to essential health services through socio-economic analytics, proactive early recovery and social protection activities targeting vulnerable groups.
He said the expected outcome is to strengthen the capacity of selected indigenous MSMEs and manufacturers, which will include at least 30% women and 20% youth-led businesses.
The Advisor added that this would also upgrade the production processes, adopt standards and technical regulations as reference for the production of high -quality PPEs and healthcare products to meet local demand as well as for export to the ECOWAS sub-region.
According to Hansstein, the project is fully relevant to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contributes primarily to the achievement of some SDG targets.
He noted that the project was targeting more than 170 MSMEs including women and youth, national and ECOWAS Markets, users and consumers of PPEs as well as healthcare-related products, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other public and private associations.
He said UNIDO will build on training to help the MSMEs formulate and implement concrete business plans in relation to the specific objectives to be achieved.
