By SALISU SANI-IDRIS

The Federal Government plans to reward hard-working and innovative Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with cars, houses and cash at this years award ceremony, an official has said.

Mr Tola Adekunle-Johnson, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, said that some would get blocks of flats and a minimum of N3 million at theMSMEs clinics initiative.

He explained that the MSMEs award was designed to commemorate the 2024 United Nations World MSMEs Day as part of efforts to recognise and support outstanding small businesses in the country.

Adekunle-Johnson stated that the federal government had scaled up the standard and quality of awards for winners.

We are coming up with huge prizes. Some of which we have announced today.

The portal for MSMEs application, which has been designed to be language-friendly for the 2024 awards, will go live on May 1 and close on Sunday, May 30th, he revealed.

Adekunle-Johnson said that one of the requirements for MSMEs interested in participating in some of the categories is registration with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration And Control (NAFDAC).

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is expected to attend the FCT MSMEs clinic at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, scheduled for May 25.

The Federal Government also plans to dole out grants to owners of small businesses as part of activities marking the world MSMEs day, he added.

He stated that government had expanded national MSMEs clinics with focus on providing a platform for them.

This will enable them to exhibit businesses, gain access to on-site investments as well as develop the five core areas of MSMEs which include funding, skill development, infrastructure, access to markets and technology.

The MSMEs award is an annual activity to honour outstanding indigenous MSMES, recognise their efforts as well as that of the States in contributing to the growth of small businesses in the country, he explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the award ceremony began in 2018 with 40 winners across five ceremonies. (NAN)