Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, has said the agency secured over N11 billion in financing support for small businesses in two years.
 
He made this known during a recent interview, stating that they also facilitated over 100,000 jobs. The DG said these achievements reflected a deliberate push to expand access to finance, tools and training for small businesses nationwide.
 
According to him, this aligned with national goals of inclusive economic growth and job creation. Odii said the agency, through strategic partnerships with the National Assembly, has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs with tools and equipment to enhance productivity in various sectors.
 
“As part of efforts to revitalise local production, SMEDAN has also restored operations at several Industrial Development Centres, including those in Abuja, Osun and Katsina States, where small businesses now benefit from access to modern machinery, steady power supply and enterprise support,” he said.He also highlighted collaborations with international development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ and Google.
   
He said the partnership was to help improve the digital and technical capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs while opening new pathways to local and international markets.
 
“Formalisation remains a key focus. SMEDAN has partnered with key regulatory agencies to ease the business environment, 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). Through these partnerships, we are helping small businesses register, comply and grow,” he said.
 
On youth inclusion, Odii noted that they are working with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other institutions to help young Nigerians turn their ideas into thriving enterprises.
   
He highlighted the success of their Garment and Textile Hub at the Idu Industrial Development Centre in Abuja, which he described as a model for inclusive industrial development. He said the solar-powered hub, made possible through a partnership with the UNDP, enables fashion entrepreneurs to access affordable industrial machines and a stable power supply, thereby increasing productivity and job creation.

He reiterated their commitment to the “GROW Nigeria” strategy, focusing on Guidance, Resources, Opportunities and Workforce support for SMEs and reaffirmed commitment to further deepening SME development as a critical driver of economic transformation.