The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii, on Tuesday disclosed that the agency provided starter packs to 55 small and medium entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State in furtherance of its sustained efforts towards enhancing their businesses.
Odii made this disclosure during a training session organized by the agency as part of the National Business Skills Development Initiative for entrepreneurs in Uyo, the state capital.
The Director-General stressed the significance of SMEs as a crucial sub-sector in the nation’s economy, citing their substantial impact on job creation, adding that the participants will be trained in leatherwork, food processing, and digital marketing.
He said: “At the end of the programme, we intend to see improved business management practice, service provision, and access to finance.
”It is also expected that market support services, delivery and patronage for artisans will improve”, he added.
The SMEDAN boss restated the Federal Government’s commitment to address the challenges confronting Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, saying that ”as an agency, SMEDAN will ensure that business development providers deliver standard services to MSMEs.
He assured: “SMEDAN will continue to support entrepreneurs in the country to promote job creation, wealth creation, and poverty alleviation.”
Earlier in his remarks, the agency’s Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr. Monday Ewans, explained that the programmed aimed to train young entrepreneurs and women and advised the beneficiaries of the SMEDAN empowerment packs to effectively utilize them to create employment opportunities and wealth.
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. John Etim, in a statement emphasized the state government’s favourable policy initiatives aimed at fostering the growth of medium and small-scale businesses.
For instance, he recalled the recent collaboration between the state government and the Bank of Industry to streamline access to loans for small-scale business operators in the state.
