By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has equipped several Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) in Lagos  State with cutting-edge skills in packaging and branding.

SMEDAN’s Chief Executive Officer/Director General, Mr Charles Odii, on Wednesday in Lagos, said the ongoing training would enable NMSMEs unlock the vast opportunities in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Odii, represented by Mr Tunde Oloyede, Deputy Director, Special Duties, SMEDAN, noted the critical role of packaging and branding in creating competitive and export-ready products.

According to him, the training is part of SMEDAN’s strategic initiatives aimed at building the capacity of Nigerian enterprises to take advantage of the AfCFTA’s 1.3 billion consumers.

“We are not just training for local excellence but we are preparing Nigerian NMSMEs to become continental brands.

“With the right packaging and branding strategies, our products can compete favourably across African markets and beyond,” he said.

Odii added that the training would also raise the bar for Nigerian products competitiveness.

He disclosed that the training covered practical modules on modern packaging techniques, brand identity development, regulatory compliance, and market positioning.

Odii said participants included entrepreneurs, startups, cooperatives, and business support organisations from across various sectors, including agribusiness, cosmetics, food processing, textiles, and more.

“The initiative aims to address longstanding challenges faced by Nigerian products in regional markets, such as poor presentation, weak brand visibility, and non-compliance with international trade standards.

The training featured expert-led presentations, live product audits, case studies of successful African brands, and interactive design labs.

“Key topics covered included designing packaging that complies with AfCFTA export requirements, developing culturally resonant yet globally appealing brand identities, leveraging e-commerce platforms, and exploring cost-effective, sustainable packaging solutions,” he said.

Odii unveiled the agency’s plans to replicate the training in the northern region of Nigeria in the coming weeks, to scale its impact nationwide.

According to him, the development further demonstrates the agency’s commitment to inclusive enterprise development across all geopolitical zones. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Kevin Okunzuwa

By Lucy Ogalue

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has intensified efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship through the Students Entrepreneurship Activity Hub (SEA-HUB) initiative in secondary schools.

Mrs Maureen Achonu, Assistant Director at SMEDAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the agency was doing this in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Achonu spoke on the sideline of the sensitisation programme, held at Government Girls Science College (GGSC), Sabon Wuse, in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to her, the initiative aims to redirect students from white-collar job expectations to becoming self-reliant job creators.

Achonu said that the initiative was an integration of SMEDAN’s National Schools Entrepreneurship Programme (NSEP) and GIZ’s SEA-HUB model.

She said it was tailored to train students on how to start a businesses with little or no capital by using available resources within their school environments

“They are taught to think critically, identify opportunities, and add value wherever they find themselves.

“We start by catching them young, so by the time they leave school, they are already equipped with the skills to run a business and even employ others,” she said.

Achonu said that the programme would be stepped down to selected teachers and students who would return to their schools as SEA-HUB ambassadors.

She said that they would form entrepreneurship clubs and sustain the learning through peer engagement and competitions.

Also speaking, Mr Daniel Loguma, Deputy Director, School Clubs and Societies, Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, expressed the commitment of his office to the initiative.

Loguma was represented by Mr Yakubu Badamasi, Desk Officer for the School Farm Programme at the Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

According to him, the ministry is fully backing the initiative and sees it as key to grooming a generation of self-reliant youths.

He said the programme was designed to teach students the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including innovation, risk-taking and business management.

“We want to give these children the knowledge and skills that will make them future employers.

“The aim is for them to explore business opportunities in their environment and replicate what they have learned through SEA-HUB clubs in their respective schools,” Loguma said.

He said that a total of 40 participants, 24 students and 16 teachers were drawn from eight secondary schools in Tafa Local Government Area for the training.

Sharing his experience, Solomon David, a student from Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Ija Gwari, expressed delight at the initiative.

“By the knowledge we have learnt here, we can make money for ourselves. I want to say thank you to the organisers of this programme,” he said.

Also, Miss Agatha Monday, a student from Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Gauraka, said that she had learnt so much about SEA-HUB.

“It teaches us how to educate ourselves and learn more.

“As a student, you should not wait for someone to employ you. This programme has shown us how to be self-employed,” she said.

With students eager to apply what they have learned, both SMEDAN and GIZ are committed to expanding the SEA-HUB initiative across more states, building a stronger line of young Nigerian entrepreneurs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Martha Agas

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected ₦1.75 trillion as revenue for the first quarter of 2025.

The Comptroller-General (C-G) of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in Abuja at a news briefing on its activities for the first quarter.

“I am proud to announce that we have exceeded this year’s target by ₦106.5 billion, achieving 106.47 per cent of our quarterly projection.

“This outstanding performance represents a substantial 29.96 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, where we collected ₦1.35 trillion.

“Our month-by-month analysis reveals even more encouraging details of this growth trajectory.

“January’s collection of ₦647. 88 billion not only surpassed its monthly target of ₦548.33 billion by 18.12 per cent , but also showed a remarkable 65.77 per cent year-on-year growth.

“February’s ₦540.11 billion exceeded its target by 1.3 per cent while achieving 19.97 per cent growth over 2024 figures.”

Adeniyi said that March maintained this positive trend with ₦563.52 billion, delivering 2.7 per cent above target and an 11.22 per cent improvement over March 2024.

He said that the service recorded 298 seizures, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7.7 billion, which represented an increase of 78.41 per cent compared to the ₦4.32 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The achievement, he said,  was an indication of improved operational effectiveness.

The customs boss added that compared to the ₦9.59 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2024, the service observed a 19.70 per cent reduction in DPV.

According to him, the reduction is due to improved compliance, facilitated by sustained stakeholders’ engagements and the deterrent effect of the service’s enforcement activities.

“Rice remained the most prevalent seized commodity, with 159 cases involving 135,474 bags valued at ₦939.31 million.

“Petroleum products followed with 61 seizures totalling 65,819 litres (₦43.34million DPV).

“Of particular note were 22 narcotics interceptions valued at ₦730.75 million reflecting our intensified focus on combating drug trafficking.

“The service also recorded three high-value wildlife product seizures with a remarkable ₦5.65 billion DPV.”

Adeniyi stated that this underscored both the lucrative nature of the illegal trade and the NCS’s commitment to environmental protection under the extant international conventions.

The C-G said that other notable seizures included 13 cases of textile fabrics valued at ₦134.22 million DPV), five cases of retreaded tires.

He disclosed that they were all valued at ₦104.60 million DPV), with one pharmaceuticals case valued at ₦17.19 million DPV.

According to him, these comprehensive results demonstrate the service’s vigilance across all the categories of prohibited and restricted goods.

In the first quarter, he said, the NCS processed a total of 327,928 Single Goods Declarations for imports.

It also handled goods with a total mass of 4.91billion kilogrammes and a Cost, Insurance, and Freight value of ₦14.81 trillion. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Rukayat Moisemhe/Oluwatope Lawanson

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it is set to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its operations beginning with a pilot project covering availability, registration of business names and incorporation of limited liability companies.

Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General of the CAC, made this announcement on Tuesday during the commission’s Stakeholders’ Customers Forum in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum, which is the first in the year, was organised to obtain feedback from customers regarding the CAC’s current performance.

Represented by Mr Justine Nidiya, Special Adviser to the registrar-general, Magaji said that additional operational processes would be introduced following the pilot project.

He underscored the necessity of adopting AI, citing predictions that by 2030, 80 per cent of current jobs could be automated.

“The commission is therefore embracing the future by adopting AI,” he said.

He also mentioned plans to deploy additional Value-Added Services (VAS), which were customised services designed to meet the specific needs of various stakeholder segments.

“Under the VAS, organisations with robust APIs will be licensed to extract data or information in formats beyond the standard options currently available.”

According to Magaji, every human endeavour faces challenges, and it is wise to view these challenges as disguised opportunities.

He pointed out that the liberalisation of foreign exchange and the rising prices of petroleum products had posed significant challenges for the commission and the broader economy.

“The resulting inflation has made procurement more expensive, yet the commission has managed to sustain its operations despite these difficulties.

Looking ahead, Magaji indicated that it might be necessary to increase filing fees to ensure the commission’s survival and optimal performance.

He urged stakeholders to collaborate with CAC to ensure the successful implementation of the new AI-driven Company Registration Portal (Intelligent CRP 3.0) and other reforms.

According to him, this will benefit all stakeholders and the country as a whole.

He also appealed to the business community to view the business formalisation project as a national priority.

According to the registrar general, meaningful development cannot occur while 90 per cent of the national micro, small, and medium enterprises operate outside the formal sector.

Mrs Ozofu Ogiemudia, Chair of the Section on Business Law of the Nigeria Bar Association, praised CAC for its proactive engagement and timely issue resolution.

She stressed the importance of leveraging AI to enhance efficiency.

Ms Efosa Ewere, Chairperson of the Lagos State Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, also expressed gratitude to the commission for introducing the AI tool.

Ewere said that it would facilitate smooth and efficient communication on their portal. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa