THE NIGERIA Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has urged Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) while prioritising workplace safety and social protection.
The NSITF Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call on Monday at the launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC)-InnoPower LLC (USA) Free MSMEs AI Master Training Programme.
The programme, organised ESBC, InnoPower LLC (USA) and UNDP, aims to equip entrepreneurs with AI skills for improved productivity and competitiveness.
Faleye described MSMEs as the foundation of Nigeria’s economy and major contributors to employment.
He noted that data from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that MSMEs constituted about 96 per cent of businesses.
“When MSMEs grow, communities prosper. When they innovate, economies become more competitive. And when they become more resilient, nations become stronger,” he said.
He described the training as more than a capacity-building programme, saying it represented an investment in the future competitiveness of businesses across West Africa.
Faleye, however, said that technology alone could not guarantee sustainable business growth, stressing the need to integrate AI adoption with worker welfare and occupational safety.
“Digital transformation and workplace protection are not separate conversations, they are the same conversation,” he said.
According to him, technology enables businesses to work smarter, while social protection enables workers to perform their duties with greater confidence and security.
He said businesses expanding across ECOWAS would require responsive systems covering occupational safety, workplace protection and social security.
Faleye reaffirmed NSITF’s commitment to supporting businesses through stronger partnerships, increased awareness and improved service delivery as enterprises respond to technological changes.
He commended ESBC, InnoPower LLC and the UNDP for bringing government, private-sector and development partners together to prepare entrepreneurs for the digital economy.
The NSITF boss urged participants to continuously acquire new skills, embrace innovation and recognise workers as critical assets to the sustainability of their businesses.
“Your greatest asset will always be your people. Protect them. Invest in them,” he said.
He also urged entrepreneurs to combine ambition with responsibility and resilience.
He said enterprises capable of combining technological innovation with responsible business practices would be better positioned to contribute to Africa’s economic transformation.
The Free MSMEs AI Master Training programme is expected to run across selected ECOWAS states, targeting business owners seeking to use AI for production, marketing and regional trade. (NAN)
