Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has urged the creation of special financing schemes for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that operate independently of commercial banks, to promote fair competition and economic growth across the region.

Governor Mbah made this call during a workshop on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) , Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), held in Enugu on Tuesday. The event was themed “Increasingly Intra-Regional Trade Through ETLS.”

Represented by his deputy, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the governor stressed the need for a structured framework to support local industries and manufacturing, noting that many SMEs face significant challenges in accessing loans and financial support from banks.

“We should set up a framework to assist local industries. We need to protect local manufacturing,” Mbah said, appealing to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and financial institutions to step up efforts in supporting homegrown businesses.

He further emphasized the need for banks to actively assist businesses in the South East to ensure they remain competitive within the ECOWAS sub-region.

“We know that we are traders, and when you talk about SMEs in Nigeria and the subregion, that’s the South East. That’s what we are known for, and we are doing it to the best of our abilities,” he added, commending the organisers for the initiative.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, highlighted the importance of the ETLS in promoting regional integration, expanding cross-border trade, and strengthening SMEs.

“This initiative is timely, as it speaks directly to the urgent task before us — to deepen regional integration, expand cross-border trade, and empower our SMEs to take their rightful place in the vast West African market,” Ojukwu said.

She described SMEs as the engine room of Nigeria’s economy, noting their role in generating employment, fostering innovation, and driving inclusive prosperity.

“Strengthening them is not merely a local concern but a regional imperative,” she added.

In his remarks, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr. Odega Jideonwo, commended the workshop as a positive step toward enhancing trade in the region.

“There are many goods produced in our region, but they rarely reach other African countries,” Jideonwo said, expressing optimism that the initiative would improve trade opportunities for local producers.