ILO Partnership with NECA Delivers Green Skills and Sustainability Workshop to MSMEs in Nigeria

Abuja – The International Labour Organization (ILO), with support of the French Government and in collaboration with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has strengthened the capacities of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria through training on Green Skills. The training took place on 3rd June 2025 at the UN House in Abuja.

MSMEs play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development. They provide employment opportunities, foster innovation, and contribute significantly to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Nigeria, over 40 million MSMEs exist, providing employing and contributing to the country's GDP. According to the NBS/SMEDAN MSME 2021 survey report, MSMEs contributed 46.32% to GDP to Nigeria. This immense contribution makes MSMEs a critical part to the countries’ economic fortune.

On this backdrop, ILO supported NECA to deliver a day’s capacity building workshop on green skills and sustainability practices for the MSMEs. The training aims to bridge the knowledge gap by equipping MSMEs with insights into green skills, sustainability strategies, and policy frameworks that can drive business growth while minimizing environmental impact. This initiative aligns with global and national policies on green transitions, including Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, the National Development Plan, and international commitments like the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The workshop also provided a platform for fruitful interaction between the relevant government agencies and the MSMEs. Some of the government agencies include Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDA), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Bank of Industry (BOI). On the other hand, about forty (40) MSMEs attended the event, in addition to representatives of MSMEs groups including Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME).

Welcoming the participants the representative of Director-General of NECA stress the importance of MSMEs in driving economic growth and development in society and urged the MSMEs to embrace the opportunities offered by the current global transition. The participants admonished government agencies to always seek to create enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive as they are the bed rock of the economy. Stephen Agugua, speaking on behalf of the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Vanessa Phala, highlighted the importance of the partnership between the ILO and NECA, which have translated in the various support from the ILO to MSMEs and assured that ILO will continue to seek for better coordinated actions to empower MSMEs through inclusive policies, better access to finance, skills, innovation, and decent work.

The high point of the event was the release of the communique from the workshop. As expected, the resolution embraced sustainability not as a trend, but as a competitive edge; and continually organize/participate in green skills training and pursue green certifications. Also, amongst others it advocates for the development of a National Green Skills Roadmap for MSMEs as part of the national skills and employment policies.
The workshop will however serve as a precursor for this year’s MSMEs Day commemoration at the UN House on 30th June 2025. ILO remains committed to supporting its tripartite constituent in advancing environmentally sustainable economic growth and decent work. The ILO is also committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener future.