By Ibironke Ariyo
Charles Odii, Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has announced plans to institutionalise the Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS) framework as a national standard for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria.
The SMEDAN D-G made this known at the 2026 ICSS4ALL National Convening on Tuesday in Abuja, describing the initiative as a defining moment in Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) development trajectory.
Odii said that ICSS had evolved from a programme into a tested framework that has demonstrated results and is now ready to become a permanent feature of how Nigeria supports its entrepreneurs.
He noted that MSMEs remain central to Nigeria’s economic structure, accounting for nearly 97 per cent of businesses, about 90 per cent of employment, and almost half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“When this sector struggles, the country feels it. When it thrives, the country feels that too. Investments and policies targeting MSMEs are among the most consequential responsibilities of government,” he said.
The SMEDAN D-G, however, identified a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
He noted that while access to finance was widely cited as a challenge, the deeper issue lies in the lack of standardised training and preparation for entrepreneurs.
“For decades, programmes operated without a unified curriculum or certification system, leaving financial institutions without a reliable basis to assess MSME applicants.
“Entrepreneurs were labelled unbankable, not because they lacked potential, but because they lacked structured preparation,” he said.
Odii explained that the ICSS framework was designed to address this challenge by providing a standardised and structured pathway for entrepreneurship development.
According to him, developed in collaboration with GIZ and ecosystem partners, the framework guides entrepreneurs from ideation to growth and market access.
“It also helps in equipping them with technical, managerial and financial skills required in the formal economy.”
The SMEDAN D-G said the framework also enables entrepreneurs to present their businesses in formats understood by financial institutions, thereby improving their access to funding.
He disclosed that over 14,000 entrepreneurs, mostly young Nigerians, had been trained under the programme, many of whom initially lacked documentation, structure and financial literacy.
“Behind every one of these numbers is a business with a stronger foundation and an entrepreneur with a clearer path forward,” he said.
To ensure sustainability, Odii said SMEDAN had established the ICSS Institute at its Garki Annex Office, Abuja as the institutional base for the curriculum.
He added that the agency had secured licensing from the Federal Ministry of Education, ensuring that ICSS certificates carry nationally recognised accreditation.
“This means ICSS certification is now a credential the formal economy recognises, fundamentally changing how entrepreneurs engage with financial institutions,” he said.
He revealed that SMEDAN was reviewing the National MSME Policy to embed the ICSS framework as the standard for entrepreneurship education nationwide.
He said efforts were ongoing to drive adoption across states, business development service providers and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“A successful programme becomes a national standard through policy, and we are pursuing that with urgency,” he said.
Odii also announced the rollout of the ICSSlearn digital platform, designed to expand access to entrepreneurship training across Nigeria, regardless of location.
“This is the infrastructure that will take us from training thousands to reaching hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs,” he said.
The D-G commended key partners for their contributions, including GOPA, led by Peik Bruhns, for programme implementation across focal states, and Kaduna Business School for providing academic rigour and credibility.
He also acknowledged the sustained support of GIZ and the German Government, as well as partner organisations delivering the programme at the community level.
The D-G charged ICSS alumni to leverage the GROW fund and digital platform to scale their businesses, while encouraging new entrepreneurs to take advantage of the available training pathways.
The D-G reiterated SMEDAN’s commitment to scaling the initiative, noting that while 14,000 trained entrepreneurs represent a strong foundation, the agency’s ambition was to establish ICSS as Nigeria’s national standard for entrepreneurship education.
“We are building an MSME sector that reflects the full productive capacity of Nigerians. The work has only begun, and we are far from finished,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
