Bayelsa State–Presidency Collaboration for Economic and Financial Inclusion; CSED as Implementing Partner

On April 14, 2025, the Center for Strategic Enterprise Development (CSED), as the official implementing partner to the Office of the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Governor of Bayelsa State, participated in a strategic high-level collaboration meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting brought together the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Bayelsa State Governor and the Technical Adviser on Economic and Financial Inclusion to the President—who also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI). 

The core objective of the engagement was to localize federal MSME intervention programs and align them with the unique socioeconomic realities of Bayelsa State through a public-public partnership framework.

This collaboration signals a critical milestone toward expanding economic and financial inclusion to underserved communities in Bayelsa, especially targeting nano, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (NMSMEs), women, and youth. The initiative will focus on key pillars including fintech adoption, digital market access, climate action, the green economy, and access to funding and technical support for MSMEs.

Bayelsa State Delegation include: Mrs. Owanari Harry – Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to the Bayelsa State Governor, ID Freeman – Country Director & CEO, CSED, Frank Omalapeh – Broadcast Journalist, Arise TV and Hassan Ozigis – New Media Assistant to the SA

And the Presidency Delegation (Office of the Technical Adviser on Economic and Financial Inclusion) include: Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro – Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion & Executive Secretary, PreCEFI, Oluseye Adebiyi – Director of Policy and Programmes, Dr. Stephen Ambore – Technical Lead, PreCEFI, Ibrahim Kyuka Avong – Director, Digital Enablement and Farid Yusuf – Director, Strategy & Advocacy

CSED is to serve as the lead implementing partner on this transformative initiative. As part of its role, CSED will lead in coordinating technical support, mobilizing development stakeholders, driving grassroots outreach, and overseeing the execution of pilot programs and long-term interventions.

This collaboration is expected to gain major momentum at the upcoming Bayelsa E-Commerce Empowerment Program (BEEP) scheduled for June 17, 2025. The event will serve as a launchpad for deploying tailored economic and financial inclusion programs in Bayelsa, and CSED will be central to its design, planning, and delivery.

This partnership further reinforces CSED’s commitment to inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and the empowerment of everyday citizens through innovative, impact-driven collaborations.