The Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Charles Odii, has says his organisation has impacted citizens with initiatives resulting in the creation of 15,000 jobs and the facilitation of over 7 billion naira in funding for Small and Medium Enterprises.
He disclosed this in a statement on Monday saying upon assumption of office on October 13, 2023, he introduced a seven-point prosperity agenda focusing on providing SMEs with access to finance, markets, capacity building, partnerships, a business-friendly environment, and streamlined processes for sustainable growth.
The statement partly read, “Some of the key achievements include; N5bn Single-Digit Interest Loan with Sterling Bank. Collaborating with Anambra and Enugu state governments, SMEDAN injected N1bn into MSMEs in each state under a matching fund agreement, Flagoff of the N50,000 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS). Commissioning of SMEDAN Head Office Equipped with Modern Work Hubs. Launch of the SMEDAN Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP). Launch of the Green Energy and Climate Change Desk. Launch of the Women and Youth Desk. Finalised plans for the commencement of a nationwide small business census to create a credible and comprehensive database of SMEs. Inter-governmental collaboration for strategic SME investments through the National Council on SMEs.”
Odi noted that his Organisation has keyed into the policy thrust of the current administration, adding “These accomplishments align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for inclusive economic growth and poverty eradication.”
