Abuja: Social Transparency and Youth Leadership Advancement Initiative (STYLAI), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand its intervention programmes beyond Abuja and state capitals. The Executive Director of STYLAI, Mr. Jacob Okpanachi, made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He emphasized the need for broader outreach to enable entrepreneurs in rural communities to participate in SMEDAN’s intervention programmes.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, many farmers and rural business owners remain unaware of SMEDAN’s initiatives and lack the necessary information to benefit from government support. Okpanachi pointed out that the rural population is larger than that of the urban centres, highlighting the urgent need for improved communication and outreach efforts to these areas. He commended SMEDAN for its transparency in programme execution and noted that the organisation has partnered with SMEDAN to ensure transparency and accountability in engaging with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Okpanachi remarked on the significant improvements in SMEDAN’s processes, which have instilled confidence among CSOs regarding the agency’s delivery of interventions. He cited examples of initiatives like interest-free business financing through organized groups and the agency’s partnership with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to support business formalisation, which encourage entrepreneurs to register their businesses and access government support.
SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to supporting MSMEs through skills development, business formalisation, shared production facilities, and improved access to business support services. Odii emphasized a consultative approach, engaging directly with traders and entrepreneurs to understand their challenges before designing intervention programmes. He stressed the importance of accountability and regular engagement with the media and civil society organisations to review and improve SMEDAN’s programmes.
Odii also officially opened the World MSMEs Day exhibition, where programme beneficiaries showcased products developed through SMEDAN’s training and empowerment initiatives, demonstrating the positive impact of the agency’s interventions in helping entrepreneurs acquire skills, establish businesses, and expand their operations.