The Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) has called on government at all levels to scale up support for SME-driven industrial parks and cluster hubs nationwide.
The organisation further urged authorities to provide tax incentives, improve access to financing for technology-oriented small businesses, and promote local production of processing equipment and spare parts through stronger research–industry collaboration.
Mr. Bayo Olarewaju-Alo, National President of NSChE, made the appeal during a press briefing on the society’s 55th Annual Conference/AGM/Exhibition held on Thursday in Enugu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s event is themed: “The Role and Contribution of SMEs to National Industrial Development and Growth.”
Olarewaju-Alo highlighted the need for increased investment in gas-based projects and renewable energy systems to reduce production costs, alongside procurement frameworks that prioritise Nigerian manufacturers and service providers.
He noted that despite the vast potential of SMEs, the sector still struggled with major obstacles such as high energy costs, weak infrastructure in industrial and rural clusters, low technological adoption, and limited research-industry synergy.
“Other issues include dependence on imported machinery and intermediate inputs,” he added.
The NSChE president said the conference was expected to produce actionable recommendations to address these challenges, adding that the theme accurately mirrors Nigeria’s current economic realities.
According to him, SMEs remain central to national development, generating over 80 per cent of jobs and contributing significantly to the country’s GDP.
“They are critical to value creation, innovation, and technology diffusion, yet many of them lack the enabling environment needed to expand,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s industrial sector would not flourish by relying solely on multinational corporations, but rather through a vibrant ecosystem of local producers, processors, fabricators, and service providers capable of transforming raw materials into finished products.
“This conference is, therefore, a call to action for deepening SME involvement across Nigeria’s industrial value chain—from agro-processing to energy, petrochemicals, renewable technologies, and advanced manufacturing,” he said.
Olarewaju-Alo explained that the conference sessions would offer a blend of policy discussions, technical knowledge, and entrepreneurial showcases, aimed at strengthening SME competitiveness and sustainability.
He added that the NSChE’s mission aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of shifting from a consumption-driven to a production-centered economy—one powered by SMEs to create jobs, reduce import dependence, stabilise the naira, and drive inclusive growth.
He noted that chemical engineers, working in collaboration with other experts, could anchor this transformation by delivering the technological foundation for sustainable manufacturing across key sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and energy.
On youth development, he said the society remained committed to mentoring young engineers capable of establishing processing plants, recycling facilities, and clean-energy start-ups across the country.
He concluded by expressing hope that the conference would stimulate policy reforms, enhance technology adoption, and deepen industrial partnerships that position SMEs at the forefront of Nigeria’s industrial revival.