The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it created 90,160 jobs for unemployed Nigerian youths in the first quarter of 2025. The agency also said it supported 116,661 entrepreneurs with training, access to finance and markets, and distribution of work tools across the country.
This was revealed in the agency’s performance report for January to March 2025, which was released on Tuesday in Abuja. According to the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, the achievements were made possible through empowerment programmes and strategic partnerships with corporate bodies and lawmakers aimed at boosting Nigeria’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Mr Odii said the agency’s programmes, which fall under the “GROW Nigerian” strategy, are focused on providing Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support to Nigerian small businesses. He explained that the results in the first quarter show real impact in job creation, enterprise support, and community development across all 36 states.
SMEDAN said it partnered with companies like Google and Wema Bank to train thousands of small business owners in digital and financial literacy, helping them understand how to use technology and financial tools to grow their businesses. It also helped many small businesses formalise their operations by registering them with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which now gives them better access to funding and allows them to join local and international supply chains.
The report noted that the agency’s Garment and Textile Hub at the Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, is helping fashion entrepreneurs with access to modern machines, steady power, and a safe working space. The hub, which is solar-powered through a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is now seen as a model for inclusive industrial growth in the country.
To further support entrepreneurs, SMEDAN said it distributed 123,743 work tools to small business owners during the first quarter. The tools include industrial sewing machines, laptop computers, tricycles, mini buses, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and power generators. The distribution covered all states of the federation.
Mr Odii explained that the work tools were given to help beneficiaries start or expand their businesses. He said the agency is deliberately targeting high-impact sectors and helping entrepreneurs improve their production processes, so they can meet local and global standards in terms of quality and pricing.
He also noted that SMEDAN signed several new strategic partnerships in the first quarter of the year. These agreements, he said, are expected to begin producing results in the second quarter. The goal is to make it easier for small businesses to access finance, grow within value chains, and expand into export markets.
According to him, SMEDAN’s work aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which focuses on rebuilding the economy and investing in projects that produce real, measurable benefits for the Nigerian people.
Mr Odii added that with the right structure and support, small businesses can become the main drivers of job creation, economic growth, and poverty reduction in Nigeria. He stressed that SMEDAN is committed to ensuring small businesses get the guidance and resources they need to succeed in the current business environment.
The agency also plans to continue monitoring its programmes to measure their impact and make adjustments as needed to improve outcomes for small business owners across the country.
