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The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Olawale Fasanya, has reiterated the need for small and medium scale businesses to tap into the export market.
Fasanya made the expression at an export facilitation programne for 100 entrepreneurs in Enugu on Thursday.
He said the programme, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC), was to boost MSMEs contributiins to Nigeria’s export earnings.
Represented by Mr Monday Ewans, Director Export Promotion, Fasanya said that MSMEs contributed only 6.21 per cent to Nigeria’s export earning in 2021.
The D-G said that global export economies depended on efficient export processing and holistic approach in managing end-to-end trade transactions
He stated that MSMEs were often faced with challenges that restricted their entry into the export market.
”With this realisation, it is important for MSMEs to take advantage of the international supply and value chains developed by SMEDAN.
”So this programme is intended to build their capacities and prepare them for effective participation in the export market,” he said.
Fasanya said that so far, the programme had been implemented in 22 states with no fewer than 40,000 entrepreneurs already trained.
Also, NEPC South-East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Arnold Jackson, expressed the council’s commitment towards empowering MSME operators to advance export trade in the country.
”This programme is very critical to their participation in the export market.
They need to make good use of it.
”They require skills in product packaging and marketing strategies to effectively harness opportunities in the export market,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the entrepreneurs, Mrs Loveline Nnenna described the programne as enriching and well-intended.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), on Tuesday began a 4-day training of 400 entrepreneurs on how to facilitate the exportation of their goods and services.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the programme, which was organised in collaboration with Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), drew participants from different businesses including food and non food items.
Inaugurating the training in Birnin Kebbi, Mr Olawale Fasanya, Director-General, SMEDAN, said that it was also going on simultaneously in Enugu, Cross River and Kwara.
Fasanya stated that 100 entrepreneurs would be trained in each of the four states.
The D-G, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the agency, Alhaji Ado Adamu-Bello, said: “I want to use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to the NEPC for partnering with the agency to implement this programme.
“Over the years, countries have made significant progress in lowering trade tariffs and dismantling quota systems towards enhancing the export capabilities of their enterprises.
“International trade has increased and manufacturing has become more global, with developing, emerging and transition economies connecting with international supply and value chains in terms of both their exports and imports.
”
According to him, governments had now realised that their export economies heavily depend on efficient export processing.
Fasanya said that there was a need to have a holistic approach for a more efficient management of end-to-end trade transactions.
“The result of the 2020 National Survey on MSMEs indicates that the MSMEs contributed 6.21 per cent to exports.
”This relatively low contribution to exports has exposed the fact that MSMEs are often faced with lots of challenges that restrict their entry into the export market.
“Not only do these challenges need to be studied in detail but a business-friendly ecosystem needs to be created in such a way that these enterprises will be able to participate in the global value chain on their own and ultimately generate economies of scale.
“Consequently, there is the crucial need for a clear understanding of export readiness status requirements, expectations for e-registration platform and other incentives to encourage export for MSMEs products and services,” Fasanya said.
He stated that the commission was strategically positioning MSMEs to take advantage of international supply and value chains.
Fasanya said that was why the agency developed the MSMEs Export Facilitation Programme to build their capacity and provide all relevant information to facilitate their effective participation in the export market.
He listed some objectives of the programme to include increasing awareness and sensitising MSMEs on the importance of enhancing exports.
Others, the D-G said, were to ensure excellent branding and packaging of products as well as services to meet both national and international standards, among others.
Fasanya said: “In our determination to address the challenges confronting the MSMEs in Nigeria in a holistic manner, the agency is implementing the One Local Government One Product (OLOP), in the 109 senatorial districts in the country.
“This ambitious effort of the agency is based on the successful implementation of the pilot phase of the OLOP programme in Katsina, Kaduna, FCT, Osun and Anambra States three years ago.
”
He said the intervention activities under OLOP, among others, included; access to workspace, equipment support, access to working capital and capacity building.
Fasanya said that the agency was also implementing the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) for micro enterprises in Nigeria.
Addressing the participants, the Manger, Zenith Bank Plc, Kebbi branch, Alhaji Aminu Abba-Ali commended SMEDAN for organising the programme.
He assured the readiness of the bank to provide loans to eligible entrepreneurs to boost export potentials.
He stated that the bank had introduced a programme mainly for women entrepreneurs tagged: “Z-Woman” which was specifically meant to assist them across the nation.
One of the participants, Mrs Bilkisu Ahmed-Ibrahim described the training as enlightening, adding, ”we were taught how to rebrand and repackage products, how to relate with customers and how to make more sales to push our businesses forward.
”
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Religious Clerics have been urged to acquire skills to create wealth and be economically self reliant.
Imam Fuad-Adeyemi, National Chief Imam, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, made the call on Sunday during a two-day Capacity for Empowerment, organised for Imams by the Society in Lokoja.
“There nothing more empowering and sustainable than acquiring skills that can help a person to create wealth that can enable to economically buoyant and self reliant.
“This is why today I am challenging all religious clerics, particularly Muslims in the country, to engage in wealth creating ventures that would make them economically self-reliant.
“It’s in this light that training Imams on wealth creation has become imperative to enable them to engage in fruitful ventures that would generate income for their personal and family needs without waiting for handouts.
“More so, it’s incumbent on the Imams to have something doing to generate income to meet their daily needs without waiting on anybody for their upkeep.
“This, I strongly believe, will make them to always speak the truth on issues in line with the precepts and directives of God to unite and lead the people in the right ways,” he said.
Fuad-Adeyemi disclosed that the Society recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and All Famers Association of Nigerian (AFAN) to train the Imams on skills and Agribusiness.
According to him, the Society has also secured no fewer than 70 training slots for Imams, who will be funded by SMEDAN as partner for them to start small scale enterprises on their own.
Also, Abubakar Zakaria, Kogi State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment, commended Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society for partnering with the Directorate at empowering the Islamic clerics.
Zakaria explained that the NDE had been training individuals, groups and other categories of people over the years in the bid to make them self-reliant and employers of labour rather than job seekers.
He said that free training opportunities abound in the directorate, “which is ready to train as many as can make themselves available in various skills and vocations to become self-reliant”.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Stakeholders in the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) sub sector, have met to chart a path for implementation of the national MSMEs policy in Edo.
The one-day event which held in Benin, was tagged: “Stalkhokders Dialogue on MSMEs Development and the Implementation of the National Policy on MSMEs” in Edo
.
Speaking at the event, Mr Onesi Lawani, the Deputy Director Policy, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said the meeting was to create awareness and ownership of the national MSME policy in Edo.
Lawani said the implementation of the national policy was to facilitate as well as sustain a vibrant MSMsE sub sector that would be the major driver of the nation’s economic growth.
Also speaking, Markus Wauschkuhn, Head of Programme, Pro-poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria (SEDIN), said that addressing issues facing MSMEs in Nigeria was the surest way to bridge the unemployment gap in the country.
Wauschkuhn said the essence of the dialogue was, therefore, to strengthen coordination of activities done by the Federal and States MDAs as well as donor organisations, geared toward the development of MSMEs in the country.
Represented by Akinropo Omoware, Head of Policy, SEDIN, Wauschkuhn said “we believe that the forum will provide opportunity for stakeholders in the MSMEs eco-system in the state to interact on the key challenges, foster common understanding and proffer some solutions”.
Also speaking, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, said that one could not underscore the fact that MSMEs were the engine of any economy, as they remained the largest employers of labour.
“We have struck strategic collaboration with local amd international partners to ensure the promotion of the private sector in the state.
”
The governor was represented by Hon Afishetu Braimoh, the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Cooperative in Edo.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr John Imalingmhe, commended SEDIN’s support to MSMEs in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was organised by SMEDAN in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives and the Edo State Skills Development Agency.
The dialogue was supported by SEDIN, a programme under the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is holding an opportunity fair for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Plateau, to explore untapped opportunities in the non-oil sector.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday in Jos, Mr Olawale Fasanya, the Director-General of SMEDAN said that the fair was aimed at showcasing the products of MSMEs in the state.
“The opportunity fair is organised annually to explore the untapped opportunities in the non-oil sector in order to boost the nation’s economy.
’’
Fasanya said that the fair was to further create opportunities for MSMEs in the state to thrive, particularly in the post COVID-19 era.
”The opportunity fair, which is an annual event usually implemented in the North and South Geo-political zones of the country is to further enhance Nigeria MSMEs prominence, competitiveness and development.
”The decision to have the second leg of the 2022 edition of the opportunity fair in Jos is therefore not only deliberate but also very auspicious most especially in this post-COVID19 pandemic era.
”Also, the dwindling resources from oil and the need to explore several economic opportunities that have largely remained untapped necessitated the need for the agency to use the fair to deepen the MSME scope in the state.
”Essentially, the opportunity fair is initiated to provide opportunities that the fair usually open up for them as it presents platform for business to business and business to public sector enabling institutions networking,” he said.
Fasanya said that the fair was purposely designed to create access to market linkages, networking, and access to critical business information required for MSMEs growth and development.
”As important as this sub-sector is to the overall wellbeing of our national economy, it is bedevilled by some challenges that does not allow for some of the new enterprises to survive their third year anniversary.
”Understanding that access to market is one of such challenges; SMEDAN has over the years assiduously worked to ensure that this issue is gradually addressed through the MSME opportunity fairs.
”Essentially, the fair is designed to provide opportunities for exhibition of goods and products by participating MSMEs,” he added.
Fasanya said that the fair would also provide opportunities for critical MDAs “that are MSMEs enablers or regulators to freely interact with MSMEs operators.
’’
The D-G thanked Plateau government for its support to the agency toward the growth of MSMEs in the state.
Declaring the event open, Gov. Simon Lalong, thanked SMEDAN for organising the event and all it had been doing toward supporting young entrepreneurs in the state.
The governor, represented by the Prof. Danladi Atu, the Secretary to the State Government, further commended the agency for the efforts and modalities put in place in creating job opportunities in the non-oil sector.
Lalong promised to support and cooperate with the agency in toward boosting the economy of the state and the country in general.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s export sector.
The ACCI President, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar made the appeal on Monday at the 2nd Abuja SME Conference and Exhibition organised via webinar by the National Chamber Policy Centre (NCPC) of ACCI.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event had as its theme: “SMEs as agent of Export Trade’’.
Abubakar also called for a state of emergency in the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in view of many bottlenecks hindering the prospect of the sector in Nigeria, especially access to export markets.
According to him, our goal is to among other things remove all bottlenecks in the export process.
Represented by the Executive Director, NCPC, Mr Olawale Rasheed, Abubakar who saluted the efforts of regulatory agencies in the sector, said that the state of emergency would speed the operation of domestic warehouses.
He also said that it would fast-track the opening of special export terminals at various ports across the country and streamline export procedures for reduced hindrances for exporters.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Olawale Fasanya highlighted the need to support the development of SMEs in Nigeria.
Represented by Mr Onesi Lawani, the Deputy Director, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, SMEDAN, Lawani said that Nigeria’s non-oil export must be competitive.
According to Fasanya, Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings are insignificant when compared with other emerging economies as the total value of the non-oil exports in 2021 was 10.083 billion dollars.
“The export market is all about competitiveness and this borders on price and quality.
“Bangladesh a country once touted as poor exported knit and woven garments alone estimated at 30 billion dollars in the first seven months of 2021.
“India, another emerging market, exported textiles and apparel worth 29.8 billion dollars between April and December 2021, according to the ministry of textiles in the country.
“Vietnam, another emerging market earned 57.54 billion dollars from export of phones and accessories in 2021 according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs in the country.
“Argentina earned nearly 21 billion dollars from export of delivery trucks, soybean oil, meal, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,’’ Fasanya said.
While urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other development institutions to creatively support the MSMEs to access financial resources, Fasanya said that adequate power supply and friendly ports operations were critical in increasing exports in Nigeria.
“More so, friendly regulations are instrumental to increasing MSMEs exports in Nigeria.
“`Quick wins for MSMEs exports is deliberate efforts of state governments to ease access to land, provision of common processing facility in clusters, and improvement in security.
”
According to him, strengthening export processing zones and creating awareness on export standards and potential, are also quick wins for MSMES.
Similarly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Mr Shehu Abdulkadir said that improved access to financial incentives and provision of basic and technological infrastructure were essential in the growth of MSMEs in Nigeria.
Abdulkadir, represented by the Senior Manager, Research, Statistics and Development in AEA, Usman Usman, also estressed the need for adequate legal and regulatory framework as well as improved commitment to building domestic expertise and knowledge.
In his presentation titled, “The Role of Abuja Enterprise Agency in Promoting SMEs as Agent of Export Trade’’, said that enhancing the capabilities of MSMEs export potential remained critical to diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, AEA will not relent in strengthening institutional synergy and building the capacities of local industries and MSMEs to produce and export their products to the international market.
“This in our view will lead to the attainment of our goal to expand our non–oil exports and address the myriad of challenges we face as a country,” Abdulkadir said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Dr Ezra Yakusak, pledged the council’s commitment to curb the rejection of non-oil exports.
Represented by Mrs Ukoanam Gertrude, the Director, Export Development and Incentive Department, NEPC, Yakusak urged Nigerians to leverage on the export trade houses to ensure their products conform to the acceptable standard.
NAN recalls that NEPC on Aug. 25 announced that Nigeria exported 4,146,534 metric tonnes of non-oil products valued at 2.593 billion dollars between January and June 2022.
According to Yakusak, the development represents an increase of 62.37 per cent when compared to 1.59 billion dollars recorded in the first half of 2021.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Thursday equipped 90 entrepreneurs with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to drive technology adoption for businesses in the country.
The beneficiaries were presented with equipment for digital marketing, phone repairs and computers at the official closing ceremony of the first phase of the National Vocational Training and Entrepreneurial Scheme on ICT, on Thursday in Lagos.
Director-General, SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, said the scheme was to equip entrepreneurs with e-commerce skills to shore up their contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He stated that the commitment of the participants would motivate government to do more after an impact assessment.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunities availed them by the training programme and assured of support for MSMEs to help them grow.
“ICT skill development is one of the priority areas identified by the agency to facilitate and sustain a vibrant MSME sub-sector that will be the major driver of national economic growth and development.
“The objective of the programme is to develop participants and train the network of businesses, while promoting computer literacy as ICT is a means of granting access to the world market,” he said.
He said online applications could be used for accounting and downloadable softwares which were available for business communication and documents sharing for small scale businesses.
“It is key to note that some of the business challenges like cybercrime, phishing, online theft would be tackled and must not hinder participants from harnessing the opportunities available to them.
“SMEDAN will continue to support towards ensuring that we achieve the MSMEs sub-sector of our dream in the areas of job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation,” he said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), says no fewer than 100 Small and Medium Enterprises are to participate at the 2022 Lagos MSMEs fair.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the event will afford exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their wares and enjoy business advisory services on how to upscale their businesses.
According to Fasanya, the fair scheduled to hold in Ipodo, Ikeja from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30, has as its theme “Competing for Market’’.
“Over 100 MSMEs are expected to participate in the 2022 MSMEs fair to be held in Ipodo, Ikeja, Lagos State next Monday.
“This year’s MSMEs fair in Ipodo will afford exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their wares as well as enjoy business advisory services from SMEDAN on how to upscale their businesses,’’ Fasanya said.
He described MSMEs fairs as veritable ground to promote Made-in-Nigeria products.
“The fair offers MSMEs a real life platform to hook up to not only market opportunities but also to network with relevant agencies in the MSME ecosystem.
“SMEDAN has come to embrace the Ipodo fair because of the success recorded in the maiden edition and we shall continue to support MSMEs as they are the backbone of any thriving economy.
“The agency recently organised a successful opportunity fair in collaboration with the Edo State Government in Benin City and next week, we shall also be organising another opportunity fair in Jos.
“All these are targeted at encouraging our MSMEs and boosting Made-in-Nigeria goods,’’ he said.
Fasanya pledged that SMEDAN would continue to step up sustainable programmes to boost the capacity of MSMEs in Nigeria.
According to him, sustainable initiatives and organisation of trade fairs and expos as well as sensitisation will boost patronage of Made-in- Nigeria goods.
“Most people are ignorant of the fact that quality and durable products are also produced by MSMEs in Nigeria,” he said.
Fasanya said that the Ipodo fair would show that Nigeria’s MSMEs caould produce good things and this would make the people to have a rethink and improve on the patronage of locally made product.
He said that the agency was planning to host an opportunity fair for the people with disability in the near future.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the fair organised by SMEDAN is the second in the series.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Tuesday began specialised skills development programme for 40 retirees in Imo.
The SMEDAN Director General, Mr Olawale Fasanya, who started the programme on Tuesday in Owerri, said it was aimed to promote skills development and financial independence among retirees.
Fasanya who was represented by the Assistant Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr Tunde Oloidi, said the programme would be on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
He said this would not only alleviate poverty but also promote self-reliance.
He added that the programme would enhance participants’ engagement in productive ventures as they would be provided with starter packs in vulcanising and food processing at the end of the training.
Oloidi noted that the decision to focus on food processing and vulcanising stemmed from the assessment exercise conducted by the state manager of the agency.
“It is a programme designed to provide entrepreneurship skills, refresher vocational skills and provision of empowerment materials to fill capacity gaps of the target group.
“This will ensure they earn income through filling the artisanal gap in Nigeria and consequently promote skills development among retirees,” he said.
He further commended the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, for providing an enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive in the state.
Also, Mr Paul Ozumba, the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Employment, commended SMEDAN for promoting job creation and empowerment in the state.
Ozumba, who was represented by Mr Kelechi Ekomaru, a staff of the ministry also commended the agency for including Imo in the programme and urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity.
Earlier, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Dr Josiah Ugochukwu, said the programme was a welcome innovation and perfect for pensioners.
He said most pensioners had nothing to fall back on after retirement and as such, would greatly benefit from the programme.
“This is a well thought out programme and it is a welcome development; most of us have been idle because we have nothing to fall back on after retirement.
“This will go a long way in alleviating the idleness while giving us a chance to earn a little more in addition to our pension and help us with our responsibilities,” he said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), says modalities are in place to train 40 prisoners, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and retirees on entrepreneurial skills
According to a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Monday Ewans, the Director, Enterprises Development and Promotion, SMEDAN, the four-day training scheduled to begin on Monday would take place in six states.
They are Ondo, Niger, Katsina, Imo, Borno and Rivers.
According to Ewans, the beneficiaries will be provided with empowerment materials for start-up or scaling of their enterprises.
He emphasised that raising employment levels among youths required a skill-based training model essential in making a smooth and sustainable transition to employment.
“This alternative educational path fosters skills acquisition and development for a professional working life.
“It creates self-reliance, reduces the issues of social unrest, unemployment and dependency,’’ Ewans said.
He expressed concern that in spite the growing economic empowerment programmes, youths continue to experience unequal access to education and skills development.
Ewans said they also face barriers to securing employment and opportunities to thrive as entrepreneurs.
“More so, as insecurity affects the country, a lot of Nigerians are forced to vacate their ancestral homes into temporary abodes called Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
“In these camps, all the persons are not given the opportunity to be exposed to the acquisition of livelihood skills (entrepreneurship and vocational) to enable them to return to financially independent lives after the camp experience.
“It is imperative that a deliberate action is taken to empower these IDPs post the camp experience,’’ Ewans said.
He said that a lot of public servants spend their lives serving the nation without having the opportunity of acquiring livelihood skills that would support them after retirement.
“Most of them run into serious problems and even die from lack of financial resources, illness and the likes.
“It is important to provide an opportunity for these set of people to acquire skills that will make them relevant during their post retirement years,’’ Ewans said.
According to him, the programme aims at promoting skills development among IDPs, prison inmates and retirees.
“SMEDAN is committed to the conduct of a large number of vocational and entrepreneurship development programmes in specific skills relating to trades like electronics, electrical, and food processing among others
“This will enable the trainees to start or scale their own businesses.
“It will create jobs and alleviate poverty through empowering IDPs, inmates and retirees.
“Also, it will ensure that they become self-reliant and financially independent as well as reintegrate them, especially IDPs and inmates into the society and provide a sense of belonging to them.
“it is also to equip them, especially inmates with surviving skills that will make them become meaningfully engaged and not to go back to criminal activities,’’ Ewans said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
