The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has presented cheque worth N7.5 million to 15 trade associations to facilitate their trade activities.
Dr. Dikko Radda, Director-General, SMEDAN, made the disclosure during a three – day capacity building programme, organised by the agency in Lagos on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the associations got N500,000 to support activities of their members.
NAN reports that the theme of the event is: “Empowering Business Membership Organisation /NGOs in Post COVID Era”.
Radda said that the training was aimed to build the capacity of BMO’s, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and trade associations to enable them enlighten their members.
He said that the training would assist the associations to also support their members on the growth of Micro, (Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSMEs) in the country.
“Majority of the BMO’s are responsible for the development of MSMEs in our country, they are responsible for a lot of activities happening eco systems for MSMEs development.
” We feel that there was need for us to bring them together and train them to help them to boost their capacity for the development of the country.
” We are training them in all aspects with the support of experts from all the regulatory bodies and financial institutions on how they can tap into their activities and use it for the growth of their businesses.
“After the three-day trading, SMEDAN will support them with N500, 000 each to 15 BMO’s, NGO and trading associations to support them in their activities after the training.
“We are extending this programme to all the zones across the country and we are focusing on 15 BMO’s, NGOs and Trade Association with 10 membership in this particular zone,”Radda said.
He said that the agency would soon embark on sensitisation programme across the six geo-political zones to educate Nigerians on the provision of the national policy.
The National President, Nigeria Association of Women Entrepreneur (NAWE), Mrs Vera Ndanusa, said that efforts of women in eradicating poverty in the country could not be overemphasised.
Ndanusa urged institutions to partner with NAWE to train women in various skills to save the future of Nigeria.
She commended SMEDAN for the loans which she said would help his members and pleaded with the agency to extend the programme across the country.
The Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Le Look Nigeria Ltd, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, commended the efforts of the agency in organising the programme in the state.
“Lagos is where its happening, this is where we have most of the Micro, Small and Medium and what ever enterprise you want.
” This is the home of it, I am hoping that the training should be bigger next time because the participants present are not representing other NGOs in Lagos,” Ezenwa said.
He urged all the participants to enable SMEDAN and the Federal Government to achieve its aims of eradicating poverty in the country.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Okikiola Fakoya, who represented African Women Entrepreneurship Programme, lauded the agency, adding that the money would boost her business.
