SMEDAN inaugurates development centre in Osun, offers entrepreneurs grants

The Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it renovated and commissioned the industrial development centre in Osun state to support entrepreneurs.

In a statement on Monday, the agency said the centre is designed to provide affordable access to modern tools and critical infrastructure, including power and storage, for SMEs.

The commissioning, led by Charles Odii, director-general of SMEDAN, was attended by Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, and former governor of Osun, who delivered the keynote address.

SMEDAN said the revamped industrial development centre comprises units such as leather, foundry, ceramic, textile, automotive, woodwork, and metal, as well as modern equipment to cater to the needs of small businesses.

The agency also said the event marked the launch of the National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) in Osun State, an empowerment program through which SMEDAN trains participants in acquiring new skills and staying updated on modern business trends.

This, the agency said, followed the provision of work tools like laptops, industrial sewing machines, and laundry machines, amongst others, to facilitate their growth and expansion.

Speaking to the beneficiaries, Odii said the agency’s commitment is to spread prosperity by enabling the growth of SMEs nationwide.

“The evidence is clear and abundant that when small businesses prosper, Nigeria prospers. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has equally made it clear that the economic well-being of Nigerians is at the top of his agenda. Hence, at SMEDAN, we are inventing new programs and adapting old ones to remove the barriers to growth that small businesses are facing,” Odii said.

“Through strategic partnerships and impactful collaborations, we are fervently working to reduce the high level of unemployment and create gainful opportunities, particularly for the teeming youth population that has shown itself to be enterprising and inventive.”

In his remarks, Oyetola commended SMEDAN for its initiatives, noting that they align with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the administration, which aims to open new frontiers of the economy and deliver inclusive economic growth to the nation.

The minister told beneficiaries to fully maximise the opportunity and strive to spread the impact of positive change in their respective communities.

In the statement, SMEDAN said it initiated the conditional grant scheme for micro-enterprises in Osun, offering selected beneficiaries a sum of N50,000 each to foster business growth and create engagement opportunities for others.