SMEDAN Enhances Support for Female Entrepreneurs
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) discloses a strengthened commitment to offer intensified support for female entrepreneurs, coinciding with this year’s international Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations, as per information from our sources.
This initiative forms part of the agency’s larger plan to stimulate job creation, foster rural industrialisation, and improve livelihoods within the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
Launch of a New Brand to Empower Women
According to a statement issued by the agency’s Director General, Mr. Charles Odii, SMEDAN is in the process of introducing a new brand. This initiative is designed to reposition the agency and enhance its capacity to achieve its main objectives, focusing particularly on the empowerment of women who make up over 70% of SMEs in the country.
The announcement was strategically made on IWD to highlight the agency’s commitment to women’s empowerment, aligning with the 2024 IWD theme of ‘InspireInclusion’.
The Director General described the new brand as embodying a modern, approachable, and vibrant spirit. The fresh brand image is expected to communicate the agency’s mission more clearly and foster stronger relationships with both local and international stakeholders.
Dedication to Facilitate Growth and Prosperity of SMEs
The agency reinforced its dedication to facilitate the growth and prosperity of SMEs, especially in the creation of opportunities for women and offering them the necessary support and recognition for their key role in Nigeria’s economy.
SMEDAN’s redirected focus involves providing advice, resources, and links to opportunities, setting to support the economic growth of both female business owners and the country’s economy at large.
Measures for Female Entrepreneur Encouragement
Further, as part of its measures to encourage female entrepreneurship, SMEDAN will intensify efforts to:
- Provide relevant training and educational programmes aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial skills and knowledge amongst women.
- Improve access to finance and credit for female-owned businesses for their start-up or expansion.
- Formulate and implement policies that foster the integration of women in the economic development process.
These initiatives from SMEDAN not only form a part of the wider goal to promote economic growth but also tie into a much larger vision of gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria.
