IWD: We’ll provide female entrepreneurs tools, resources for growth, says SMEDAN DG

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has pledged to support female entrepreneurs with the right tools and resources to create more impact.

Charles Odii, director general (DG) of SMEDAN, gave the assurance while revealing a new brand for the agency on Monday.

Odii said SMEDAN would continue to deliberately create growth opportunities for women, adding that none will be left behind.

He also said the agency would continue to ensure growth and prosperity, offer guidance, provide resources, and connect women to opportunities.

Speaking on the decision to unveil the brand on International Women’s Day (IWD), Odii said it underscores SMEDAN’s commitment to women’s empowerment.

He said the rebranding aims to reposition the agency towards achieving its mission of job creation, rural industrialisation, and livelihood enhancement through sustainable development of the SME sub-sector.

Odii added that the new brand aims to ensure prosperity for small business owners, especially women, who constitute over 70 percent of SMEs in the country. 

“As the agency responsible for the transition of nano businesses into micro, micro into small, and small into medium, we understand the importance of change and progress,” the DG said.

“Not just for the sake of it, but because adaptation and evolution are crucial for relevance and impact.

“We want to clearly communicate our purpose, strengthen our bond with the entities that we serve, and the local and international stakeholders we collaborate with for success. 

“More importantly, we want to reassure SMEs that we are #HereForProsperity, their prosperity.

“We’ve created a brand that is closer to the people, modern in its outlook, approachable in its demeanour, and vibrant in its spirit. 

“The backbones of our economy deserve to be catered to by an agency that mirrors the excellence they showcase daily and aspire to.

“We made the deliberate choice to announce this on International Women’s Day because of the significance of women to our prosperity mission

“Women are responsible for almost 75% of SMEs in the country, and they have also distinguished themselves as investment multipliers, on whose backs and hard work the economy rests.

“As part of our renewal, SMEDAN is rededicating itself to the empowerment of women, ensuring that they get deserved support and recognition for their productivity and contributions. 

“We will start this at home, with the women of SMEDAN, many of whom have invested decades of their lives into building stronger roots for the pillars that hold the Nigerian economy.”

Odii said the new SMEDAN will support women to create more impact and achieve personal progress.