By Ibironke Ariyo The Federal Government has moved to close the long-standing gap between entrepreneurial training and access to finance. John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), said this at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS4ALL)Continue Reading
Products showcased at the event centre 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 atContinue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, says the agency’s new Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS) programme addresses a key challenge for small businesses. The initiative bridges the gap between entrepreneurship training and access to finance. OdiiContinue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Federal Government has commended the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for continuing to drive private sector growth and boost investors’ confidence through sustained reforms and digital transformation. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Nura Rimi, said this at the 35th anniversary celebration ofContinue Reading
By Daniel Obaje The Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Afiz Ogun, has called for a national framework to train, certify and license Nigerian artisans to eliminate quackery and promote global competitiveness in the sector. He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ofContinue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it created more than 90,160 jobs and empowered 116,661 entrepreneurs across the country in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. Mr Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja,Continue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, has called for the establishment of a legal framework to back the operations of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) across Nigeria. Enoh said this at the induction ceremony of the newly certified BDSPs organised by the Small andContinue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says the proposed tax reform bill will significantly reduce financial burden and create a growth-enabling environment for small business owners. The Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, said this at a stakeholder engagement on tax reforms organisedContinue Reading
By Lucy Ogalue The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has called for decisive action to support women entrepreneurs and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. SMEDAN Director-General, Mr Charles Odii, said this at the Unveiling of SMEDAN’s GrowHer Accelerator Programme, organised to mark theContinue Reading
By Mark Longyen The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, has urged ECOWAS member states to actively implement the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition’s (ESBC) programmes. Odii gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Praia, Cape Verde, onContinue Reading
