The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Charles Odii, has said the agency created 90,160 new jobs in the first quarter of (Q1) 2025, driven by targeted empowerment programs and strategic collaborations.
In a statement signed by the management, the Q1 performance report of the agency has supported more than 116,000 entrepreneurs nationwide with vital resources including training, access to finance, markets and the distribution of work tools.
SMEDAN’s empowerment efforts were supported by a growing network of partners in addition to its collaboration with members of the National Assembly, the agency worked with private sector players such as Google and Wema Bank to train thousands of entrepreneurs, equipping them with digital and financial literacy skills critical for modern enterprise.
Odii said: “Key highlight of SMEDAN’s work is its support for the formalization of thousands of small businesses, helping them register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). These businesses are now better positioned to access funding, participate in supply chains, and compete in local and international markets.
“In Abuja, the agency’s Garment and Textile Hub at the Industrial Development Centre in Idu has become a model of inclusive industrial growth. The hub provides fashion entrepreneurs with affordable access to modern industrial machines, steady power—solarized through a partnership with UNDP—and a safe, conducive workspace. The result is increased productivity, job creation, and a pathway to scale for local designers.
“To further support business growth, SMEDAN distributed a wide range of essential work tools including sport utility vehicles, mini buses, laptop computers, industrial sewing machines, tricycles, power generators, and more, helping entrepreneurs across states start or expand their businesses. In total, the agency distributed 123,743 work tools in Q1 2025, covering all 36 states of the country.
“This report underscores the impact of our GROW Nigerian strategy, which focuses on providing Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support to small businesses across the country. We are deliberately mobilizing and directing resources to help small businesses grow, expand, and transition into the formal sector where their contributions can be properly captured and supported. At the same time, we’re helping them improve their production processes to compete more effectively in both local and global markets. The result is more jobs, stronger businesses, and greater value unlocked within communities nationwide.”
Odii added that the agency has also signed a number of strategic partnerships in Q1 which will begin to yield results in Q2. These collaborations, he said, are designed to expand SME access to finance, unlock value chains, and prepare Nigerian businesses to compete globally. “From product quality to pricing, ‘we’re helping entrepreneurs build businesses that can serve both local and export markets,” the DG said.
The Nation
