Bank of Industry
Abuja, Nigeria – June 18, 2025 – ONN
The Bank of Industry (BOI) has spotlighted Nigerian artisans and technicians as essential drivers of inclusive growth and the future of the country’s industrial development.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Artisans Leadership Summit in Abuja, BOI Managing Director Dr. Olasupo Olusi stated that Nigeria’s over 12 million artisans represent an untapped powerhouse of grassroots enterprise and innovation.
Olusi, represented by Ms. Mabel Ndagi, Executive Director of Public Sector and Intervention Programmes, emphasized the bank’s commitment to unlocking the potential within the informal sector through strategic investments, financial support, and skills development.
“The theme of this summit, Unlocking the Inherent Potential of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians, reflects a vision of Nigeria where talent is nurtured, not wasted, and where informal skills are integrated into formal opportunities,” Olusi said.
The summit drew participants from across the public and private sectors, including artisan union leaders, development partners, and government agencies, all gathered to address challenges facing artisans and discuss strategies for long-term sectoral growth.
Olusi identified key constraints in the artisan ecosystem:
-
Limited access to affordable finance
-
Outdated tools and technologies
-
Weak business structures
-
Minimal participation in exports and innovation
-
Gaps in research and development
To address these, Olusi revealed that BOI’s 2025–2027 Corporate Strategy is built around six core pillars:
-
Supporting MSMEs
-
Youth empowerment and skills development
-
Expanding the digital economy
-
Advancing climate sustainability
-
Investing in infrastructure
-
Promoting gender inclusion
“These aren’t just bureaucratic categories,” he noted. “They are the framework through which we re-imagine support for artisans and grassroots entrepreneurs.”
He reaffirmed BOI’s role as a catalyst for inclusive growth, stating that artisans are not just part of the economy, they are vital to its resilience and progress.
“True national development cannot be outsourced. It must be built by skilled hands and passionate hearts, people like you,” Olusi told summit participants.
The 2025 Artisan Leadership Summit reinforces BOI’s broader mission to expand financial inclusion, integrate the informal economy into national planning, and empower everyday Nigerians to shape the country’s industrial future.
About the Author
