The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has commenced the disbursement of ₦5 billion in grants to more than 30,000 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s North West region, in a bold push to drive youth entrepreneurship and empower young people to see education as a launchpad for business.
The initiative, launched in Zaria with the backing of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is part of a broader strategy to nurture entrepreneurial talent and equip students with the tools to transform ideas into viable ventures. It aligns with the agency’s Workforce Support pillar under the GROW Nigerian initiative, which focuses on building a skilled and business-ready youth population.
SMEDAN’s Director-General highlighted that the grants are only one component of a wider effort. Alongside financial support, the agency is implementing an Undergraduate Internship Programme that provides hands-on experience in business operations, allowing students to gain practical skills and exposure before graduation.
This dual approach offering both capital and experience, aims to prepare students to become job creators rather than job seekers. By introducing entrepreneurship early in the academic journey, SMEDAN hopes to stimulate innovation and build a generation of self-reliant, economically productive graduates.
According to the Director-General, the project is designed not just as a one-off intervention but as part of a sustainable strategy to develop a nationwide pipeline of entrepreneurial talent. The disbursement in the North West marks the first phase of a broader rollout, with similar programmes expected to be launched in other regions in the coming months.
As Nigeria faces high youth unemployment and underemployment, initiatives like this signal a shift toward more practical and impactful youth development strategies. With institutional support and strong implementation, the programme could serve as a transformative model for engaging students in business and economic growth from the ground up.
