Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to address the obstacles hindering the growth of small businesses.
He spoke on Thursday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he discussed the agency’s ‘GROW Nigerian’ strategy designed to offer SMEs essential guidance, resources, opportunities and workforce support to thrive.
He disclosed that Tinubu reiterated his commitment to SMEDAN’s core mandates of rural industrialization, job creation and livelihood enhancement at the meeting.
“SMEs are central to the President’s mission to eradicate poverty and ensure prosperity reaches all corners of Nigeria,” Odii said.
“His commitment was evident as we discussed SMEDAN’s GROW Nigerian strategy, which includes plans to create an enabling environment for over 40 million small businesses, collectively providing over 60 million jobs. We are not only going to protect them from inflationary pressures but also empower them to drive down such trends.”
“We will work with sister government agencies to streamline regulations and optimize them for growth and productivity. We will remove obstacles that hinder formalization and growth.
“With the strategy, SMEs will get affordable financing opportunities, access to lucrative domestic and international markets, tailored mentorship, and support to compete through capacity building for improved production standards.
“The President has expressed his support, and this was both exciting and reassuring. I am thankful to the President for his time and exemplary leadership.”
Odii added that Tinubu’s assurance has “reinvigorated” his determination to “passionately pursue” SMEDAN’s mandate and “deliver meaningful outcomes” for small business owners nationwide.
