In a move to strengthen the support system for Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has met with the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to reinforce collaboration between federal and state governments.
The high-level meeting focused on aligning interventions and scaling impactful programs to build a more supportive and coordinated environment for small businesses across the country. The SMEDAN chief described the session as both productive and forward-thinking, with discussions centered on strategies to stimulate local enterprise and unlock economic opportunities, especially at the grassroots.
He emphasized that strengthening partnerships with state governments is essential for enhancing the agency’s reach and ensuring effective implementation of policies designed to support MSMEs. He also praised the governor’s insights and commitment to inclusive growth.
Key points from the conversation included plans to jointly develop tailored initiatives that address the unique needs of enterprise clusters across various regions. These would improve access to finance, infrastructure, and capacity-building programs critical to MSME success.
The proposed framework for collaboration is expected to be presented to the full Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as part of SMEDAN’s broader agenda to create a more enterprise-friendly ecosystem. This initiative underlines the importance of MSMEs in driving employment, innovation, and economic resilience nationwide.
