Founder of the Accelerating Business Access (ABA) project, Mrs. Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, has said the initiative was created to drive entrepreneurship and provide solutions to the human development crisis affecting Nigeria’s informal economy.
She explained that the project’s main objective was to unlock the potential of small businesses and remove the barriers preventing them from contributing more meaningfully to national growth.
According to her, the informal sector plays a crucial role in the economy, employing the majority of the workforce and contributing a large share of the GDP.
However, she noted that many small businesses still face exclusion from financial systems, lack legal recognition, and struggle with limited access to funding, leaving them vulnerable to setbacks that can halt their progress.
She made these remarks on Wednesday during a press conference and the official unveiling of the ABA for Africa project in Abuja.
Busari-Akinnadeju stated that the initiative would deliver practical support, including simplified business registration, financial and digital literacy training, and improved access to capital and growth networks.
She added that the pilot phase of the project would begin in Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, and Ondo State.
She also called on government agencies, financial institutions, private investors, and the media to partner with ABA in building a more inclusive business environment that transforms the resilience of informal entrepreneurs into long-term national development.