The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has mobilized over N11 billion in financing support for small businesses in the past two years, according to Director-General Charles Odii. The agency also reports facilitating more than 100,000 jobs under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Odii told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that these achievements reflect a strategic effort to expand access to finance, tools, and training for small businesses across the country, aligning with national goals of inclusive economic growth and job creation.
“In just two years under President Tinubu, we have made real, measurable progress at SMEDAN,” Odii said. “We have mobilised over N11 billion to make financing more affordable for small businesses and helped create more than 100,000 new jobs across the country.”
SMEDAN, through strategic partnerships with the National Assembly, has also empowered thousands of entrepreneurs with tools and equipment to enhance productivity in various sectors. The agency has restored operations at several Industrial Development Centres, including those in Abuja, Osun, and Katsina States, providing small businesses with access to modern machinery, reliable power supply, and enterprise support.
Collaborations with international development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ, and Google are helping to improve the digital and technical capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs and opening new pathways to local and international markets.
SMEDAN has partnered with key regulatory agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to ease the business environment.
The agency is also working with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other institutions to help young Nigerians turn their ideas into thriving enterprises.
Odii highlighted the success of the SMEDAN Garment and Textile Hub at the Idu Industrial Development Centre in Abuja, which he described as a model for inclusive industrial development.
The agency is committed to the “GROW Nigerian” strategy, focusing on Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support for SMEs, to create more jobs, stronger businesses, and greater value within communities nationwide.
SMEDAN reaffirms its commitment to deepening SME development as a critical driver of economic transformation and national prosperity.
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