The National Productivity Centre (NPC) and Abuja Enterprises Agency (AEA) are collaborating to deepen entrepreneurship in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja. At the signing ceremony, the Director General of the Centre, Dr Nasir Raji-Mustapha said the collaborative efforts of the two bodies will foster entrepreneurship development and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He added: “We all know the impact of small and medium scale businesses have on economies globally, especially the developing economies. Small and medium-scale enterprises produce household items that are not sophisticated. They should have market knowledge about what is needed and how to respond to emerging needs of the market. They should also know how to improve their products deriving maximum output from input. This is a sector that should be knowledge-driven but that is not happening in Nigeria. The sector must sit up and take its rightful place within the manufacturing sector.”
The NPC boss stressed the pivotal role of SMEs in driving economic progress and affirmed the collaboration as a stepping stone towards achieving the national development objectives encapsulated in the renewed hope agenda championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The agreement extends beyond entrepreneurship development and capacity building, as both organizations identified additional areas of synergy, encompassing data-gathering initiatives, specialized training programs, and targeted youth engagement projects.
On his part, the Acting Managing Director/CEO of Abuja Enterprise Agency, Chudi Ugwuata Ezirigwe, said the partnership signals a united front in advancing sustainable business practices, fostering innovation, and nurturing a conducive environment for entrepreneurship to flourish in the FCT.
In another working partnership, the Centre also sealed a collaboration with AIG-Imokhuede Foundation in a move that is aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency in Nigeria’s public sector.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration and cooperation, Dr Raji-Mustapha hinted that the partnership aims to elevate the managerial and operational knowledge, skills, and competencies of the Nigerian public sector through the utilization of innovative productivity improvement tools and techniques.
It is also targeted at bolstering labour productivity in Nigeria through public sector leadership development programmes and strengthening capacities for effective policy design and implementation, with a focus on enhancing economic growth and public sector service delivery.
The agricultural, industrial, and service sectors have been earmarked as pilot areas for the partnership.
On her part, the Executive Vice-Chairperson of the AIG-Imokhuede Foundation, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, lauded the NPC and its impacts on promoting productivity in the country saying the Centre is a worthy partner as the Foundation strives to promote productivity in key areas of the economy. In the meantime, the Centre has launched its corporate enhancement programme in a renewed strategic move to bolster organizational effectiveness and foster a more vibrant workplace culture.
The corporate enhancement programme encapsulated in a corporate culture booklet, was an initiative undertaken by the Corporate Affairs and Information Department in collaboration with the Human Resource Management and Consultancy and Business Development Departments of the Centre.
In his opening remarks at the launch, the Director General of the Centre, Dr Raji-Mustapha, emphasized the importance of employees’ attitudes towards their work and personal lives.
He charged employees of the Centre to develop inherent passion and make proactive contributions to the growth of the Centre, aimed at enhancing organizational practices and fostering a conducive work environment.
