The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has announced that it created 90,160 jobs for unemployed youths in the first quarter of 2025.
The agency also supported over 116,000 entrepreneurs nationwide with training, financial access, market linkages, and distribution of work tools.
This was revealed in its newly released Q1 performance report, highlighting the agency’s efforts between January and March 2025 in Abuja. The agency attributed the achievements to targeted empowerment programmes and strategic partnerships designed to strengthen the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
The agency noted that its empowerment initiatives were significantly strengthened by strong collaboration with members of the National Assembly. The agency worked with private sector partners such as Google and Wema Bank to train thousands of entrepreneurs, equipping them with essential digital and financial literacy skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.
The report also highlighted the agency’s role in the formalization of thousands of small businesses, assisting them in registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
According to the report, “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, minibuses, laptop computers, industrial sewing machines, tricycles, and power generators, 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.”
Commenting on the report, SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii highlighted the impact of the agency’s GROW Nigerian strategy, focused on providing Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support to small businesses nationwide. He explained that the agency is deliberately channeling resources to help businesses grow, formalize, and become competitive in both local and global markets.
Odii also noted that several strategic partnerships were signed in Q1 to expand SME access to finance, unlock value chains, and boost global competitiveness. He reaffirmed SMEDAN’s alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, emphasizing that empowered SMEs are vital to driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth across Nigeria.
