The National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a database for SME intervention programs.
This partnership aims to equip Nigeria’s 40 million SMEs with digital skills to bolster their productivity and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
During the MoU signing at SMEDAN headquarters in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, emphasized the pivotal role of SMEs as the engine room of the economy. He highlighted the timeliness and significance of the collaboration, emphasizing the need to unleash the full potential of SMEs in Nigeria to operate profitably in both local and global markets.
Inuwa underscored the importance of digitizing SMEs, citing President Tinubu’s mandate to accelerate economic diversification through technological innovation. He proposed the creation of a comprehensive database of all SMEs in Nigeria to facilitate the provision of incentives and foster digital literacy among SME operators.
Charles Odii, director-general of SMEDAN, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the alignment of the collaboration with the President’s agenda for job creation and digitizing the Nigerian economy. He envisioned the transformative impact of equipping Nigeria’s SMEs with digital skills, emphasizing the potential for job creation and economic growth.
Odii urged small business operators to leverage social media for sales growth and business scaling. He highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to formalize SMEs and tailor innovative solutions to address their challenges.
The collaboration between NITDA and SMEDA signifies a concerted effort to empower SMEs with digital skills, enabling them to thrive in the digital economy and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
