Experts Converge In Umuahia, Dec 3-5, For MSMEs Sustainability Conference

Driven by the concern in the decline of and the commitment to finding sustainable pathway out of the myriad of challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, in Nigeria, the College of Management Sciences, COLMAS, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, Abia State, has pulled finance and economic experts from diverse backgrounds to proffer creative and innovative solutions to the problem.

The peculiar challenge of the Nigerian business environment has been the bane of survival of many small and medium enterprises, painting a bleak and hopeless future for MSMEs. How can the small businesses navigate through the murky waters and stay afloat?

The conference aims to not just provide pragmatic solutions but also contribute to strategic national economic development and expand the frontiers of knowledge on the subject of MSMEs as the bedrock of sustainable economic growth.

To address the burning issue, the conference pulls authorities in finance, business and entrepreneurship as well as stakeholders and policy makers, from December 3 to 5, 2025, in the COLMAS 2nd International Hybrid Conference, on the theme, ”Innovation and Sustainability of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) In Emerging Economies.”

The conference organizers, according to the information on the handbill took cognizance of all aspects of primary economic indices, policy, finance and environmental factors that has made the survival of small businesses practically impossible or has relentlessly inhibited their growth and sustainability.

The handbill issued by the Chairman of the organizing committee, Prof A E Osuala, and Secretary, Dr C I Otuokere, who also serve as contact persons, said the conference provides the rare opportunity MSMEs desperately need to survive with a robust turn around in their operations.

It further declared that the conference will attempt to unlock MSMEs survival strategies with innovative and creative methodologies for startups and growth platforms for existing ones. It therefore called for submission of papers from authors, academics, experts, policy makers on the subject.

The paper submission deadline, it stated, is November 25, early registration begins on November 30, while late on -sight registration will be on December 2, 2025.

In a release outlining the conference vision, the organizing committee chairman provided the guidelines for submission of manuscripts, including, “Title of paper, Name(s) and Affiliation(s) of Author(s). Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results/Discussion,” among others and urged proprietors to take advantage of the conference to succeed.

While other conference participants are to pay a token of N20,000, post graduate students would be admitted with N15,000 for materials and technical support.

The handbill explained that the sub themes were carefully selected to address various, yet critical aspects of the main theme.