•••Faleye Urges MSMEs to Prioritise Workers’ Safety, Welfare Amid Digital Transformation
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has called for a deliberate integration of digital transformation with social protection as African businesses increasingly adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive growth and competitiveness.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSITF, Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, made the call on Monday at the official launch of the ESBC–InnoPower LLC (USA) Free MSMEs AI Master Training Programme held at the United Nations House, Abuja.
The programme, spearheaded by the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC) in partnership with InnoPower LLC (USA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is designed to equip micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the region with AI skills to compete effectively in the emerging digital economy.
Faleye, who was the special guest of honour at the event, described MSMEs as the foundation of Nigeria’s economy, noting that approximately 96 per cent of businesses in the country are MSMEs, according to data from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
He said the sector employs millions of Nigerians and sustains countless families, stressing that the growth and resilience of MSMEs were critical to national economic development.
“When MSMEs grow, communities prosper. When they innovate, economies become more competitive. And when they become more resilient, nations become stronger,” Faleye said.
He described the AI training programme as “far more than a training initiative,” saying it represents “an investment in the future competitiveness of West Africa.”
However, the NSITF boss cautioned that technology alone could not guarantee sustainable business growth and resilience, urging entrepreneurs to combine AI adoption with adequate attention to workers’ welfare, safety and social protection.
“Digital transformation and workplace protection are not separate conversations; they are the same conversation,” he said.
According to him, while technology enables businesses to work smarter, social protection gives workers the confidence and security required to contribute effectively to enterprise growth.
“An enterprise that embraces Artificial Intelligence but neglects the welfare and safety of its workforce has merely modernised its operations without strengthening its resilience,” he warned.
Faleye further noted that as businesses expanded across the ECOWAS region, there would be a corresponding need for responsive systems of occupational safety, workplace protection and social security.
He reaffirmed NSITF’s commitment to supporting businesses through stronger partnerships, increased awareness and improved service delivery.
Faleye commended the ESBC, InnoPower LLC and UNDP for bringing together government, the private sector and development partners to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools required to thrive in the digital age.
He urged participants to continuously upgrade their skills and embrace innovation, while keeping their workforce at the centre of their business strategies.
“Learn continuously. Innovate boldly. But remember that your greatest asset will always be your people. Protect them. Invest in them,” he said.
The NSITF chief executive congratulated the organisers and partners for making the initiative possible, stressing that Africa’s future enterprises would be defined not only by their ability to adopt emerging technologies but also by their commitment to responsible and resilient business practices.
“The enterprises that will define Africa’s future will not simply be those that adopt the latest technologies. They will be those that combine innovation with responsibility, ambition with resilience,” he said.
The launch attracted high-level dignitaries, including the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; representatives of UNDP Nigeria and the UNDP Regional Office for West and Central Africa; and the Regional President of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition, Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima.
Representatives of InnoPower LLC (USA) were also present at the event.
The Free MSMEs AI Master Training Programme is expected to run across selected ECOWAS member states, targeting business owners seeking to leverage Artificial Intelligence to improve production, marketing and regional trade.
