The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SMEDAN

  • BENUE seeks SMEDAN’S partnership

    BENUE seeks SMEDAN’S partnership

    The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, yesterday solicited partnership with the management of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) in order to empower the citizens of the state economically.

    He spoke when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, led directors to pay him a courtesy call at the Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

    He said the times dictated that leaders must think outside the box to create massive employment, wealth and opportunities.

    He said: “It’s only when the private sector comes in form of micro, small and medium enterprises that we can surmount challenges of poverty and unemployment because government at all levels cannot provide the needed jobs.

    “My administration will be working closely with your agency so as to be able to tap the opportunities that we have in SMEDAN to be able to support our people to empower themselves economically.”

    The governor requested a position paper and details on areas of the partnership as soon as possible.

    “I worked with you in the Ministry, therefore my people are looking up to me to unveil a comprehensive programme in this area,” he stressed.

    Responding, Masari assured that the agency would launch its programmes in Benue State.

    He said: “We’re willing and ready to partner with you so that we can help your government attain its target of poverty reduction and developing its economy.

    “Benue is a state that is hugely blessed and we’re willing to tap the resources and talents in transforming the potentials into economic benefits.”

    He expressed optimism that with Ortom’s background and experience, he would steer the state in the right direction.

    Masari presented copies of the Federal Government’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises policy to Governor Ortom.

  • Govt unveils result of 2013 national survey on MSMEs

    Govt unveils result of 2013 national survey on MSMEs

    The Director-General,  Small and Medium Scale Enterprise of Nigeria,  (SMEDAN), Bature Umar Masari yesterday unveiled the result of the 2013 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Agencies (MSMEs).

    He said the National policy on MSMEs, is important considering the fact that all over the world, effective and successful developments have been driven by a robust policy framework and the availability of accurate data.

    Masari, said the policy on MSMEs and the results of the 2013 national MSME survey, will provide a veritable platform for the planning,  implementation,  monitoring and evaluation development programme within the MSMEs sub- sector in Nigeria.

    He said: “The first national policy was developed in 2007, the policy had been implemented for about seven years now and needed to be reviewed.  The aim of the review process was to ensure that the policy was updated to reflect unfolding economic and social imperatives affecting MSMEs in Nigeria.  It is also to ensure that the policy is aligned with international best practices in MSMES development.

    “The first ever national policy on MSMEs was developed by the agency in partnership with the African Institute of Applied Economic AIAE, the United Nation  Development Programme  (UNDP) and other relevant stakeholders.

    “I am pleased to inform you that after due consideration,  the reviewed national policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which is what is being presented to you today.

  • ITF, SMEDAN, BoI train 37,000 youths

    Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) said it has trained 37,000 youths in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) in two years.

    According to the organisation, the training was carried out under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which was introduced by the Federal Government two years.

    Director-General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, made this known in Lagos during an interactive forum with industry stakeholders organised by the Fund.

    She said the theme of the forum, Moving Forward and Succeeding Together is apt and a clarion call for all its stakeholders to join in the Fund strides towards a developed and industrialised Nigeria.

    Onaeko pointed out that no nation develops by merely exporting raw materials without having a booming industrial sector, saying that for this to happen, an adequate number of skilled workforce as a pre-requisite is needed.

    She added that the Fund came up with a four point agenda which are: increase the number of Nigerians trained to two million annually; fully automate ITF business processes and ensure 100 per cent each of collection training contributions as well as implementation of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

    She added that the four point agenda is intended to ensure effective service delivery that will add value to the bottom line of clients’ operations and guarantee full actualisation of its mandate.

    “As part of our commitment to building the capacity of middle level manpower in Nigeria, the ITF in conjunction with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has set up a Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP).

    She said: “The project, which currently runs in the facilities of NECA member companies, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Kaduna, Niger Dock Lagos, Nigerian Breweries and ITF ISTCs in Ikeja and Kano, is set to be expanded to more facilities in order to accept more trainees.”

    She appealed to companies that had failed in their statutory duties change, saying: “it is only when we collectively live up to our responsibilities that our dream of a great Nigeria will be achieved.

  • MDAs shun Reps’ investigative public hearing

    Attempts by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the refusal of MDAs to submit their audited reports spanning several years, were truncated by the non- appearance of the MDAs involved.

    Yesterday, the management team of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) numbering over 15, shunned the investigative public hearing initiated by the Solomon Olamilekan- headed House Committee on Public Accounts.

    The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and other tertiary institutions were part of the MDAs invited to the public hearing

    The affected organisations allegedly failed to submit their audited annual reports to the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) as provided by the financial regulations.

    On November 18 the committee summoned some MDAs, namely Petroleum Pricing Marketing Corporation (PPMC), Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as well as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    The list also includes Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Voice of Nigeria (VON), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), among others.

    However, legislative activities resumed fully, as senators held closed door session with the service chiefs, as the police  deployed over 80 personnel in the National Assembly.

     

  • Kaduna partners SMEDAN to create 5,000 jobs

    Kaduna partners SMEDAN to create 5,000 jobs

    Kaduna State Government has entered into a partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) for the establishment of business support centres to provide support services and capacity building to MSMEs.

    It has, also, consummated an agreement to conduct Graduate Vocational and Entrepreneurship Skills Training (GVEST) to build capacity of 1,000 graduates expected to create 5,000 jobs in the state.

    Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero disclosed this yesterday while declaring open a three-day opportunity exhibition and trade fair for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the North West region organised by SMEDAN in Kaduna.

    Yero said, as a deliberate policy, the government has established the Kaduna State industrialisation and micro-credit management board as a special purpose vehicle for micro delivery to support the growth of SMEs.

    Represented by the Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Mr. Mamman E. Danka, Yero urged the participating entrepreneurs to take advantage of the fair and exhibition to ensure the sustained development of the SMEs sub-sector in their states.

    “Just recently, the government entered into a matching fund partnership with two major development banks, the BoI and BoA and created a pool of funds to the tune of N2 billion to be disbursed to MSMEs as micro loans as well as for the development of agriculture in the state,” Yero stated.

    The representative of SMEDAN Director-General, a Deputy Director in the agency, Alhaji Shehu Sada, urged the participants to take advantage of the exhibition/trade fair to showcase their skills, and interact with one another to build capacities through idea sharing among other opportunities.

    He assured that the agency is doing all it can to encourage entrepreneurs in all ways, and further urged entrepreneurs to tap into government policies aimed at bettering their lives and businesses.

    Speaking earlier, SMEDAN Consultant Hajia Safiya Adamu of Messrs Leadership Paradigm Consultants Limited welcomed the participants, stressing that the exhibition and trade fair was for entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and skills, and also create an enabling market environment for them.

    She said the fair would also introduce them to financial opportunities that could be assessed from relevant agencies, such that they would help strengthen their businesses and make them employers of labours, and reduce the rate of unemployment.

    The participants commended the opportunity availed them by SMEDAN to showcase their businesses and talents.

  • Oyo, SMEDAN partner to address youth unemployment

    Oyo, SMEDAN partner to address youth unemployment

    The Governor of Oyo State,  Senator Abiola Ajimobi has promised to leverage on the opportunities offered by the  Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) programmes to address the challenges of unemployment and poverty in the state.

    Ajimobi made the remark  during a courtesy visit by Oyo State delegation on SMEDAN management, at its corporate headquarters in Abuja. The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, noted that poverty and escalating unemployment could be attributable to the disturbing security challenges with their consequences on the socio-economic and political vicissitudes.

    He stressed that SMEDAN as government agency responsible for the creation and development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, has a crucial role to play in translating the government’s agenda of drastic reduction of unemployment and poverty among Nigerians.

    Governor Ajimobi regretted that in the past, Oyo State government did not take advantage of partnering with SMEDAN to translate some of its programmes that are geared towards fighting youth unemployment and poverty alleviation in the state.

    “I want to assure you that from today Oyo State will be in active partnership and collaboration with SMEDAN in order to derive maximum benefits of your laudable programmes that could positively change the lives of our people,” he said.

    The governor added that even as Oyo lagged behind in partnership between state governments and SMEDAN,  the current efforts of the Ajimobi administration will make Oyo a leading state in partnering with the agency.

    “Henceforth, Oyo State government will participate fully in all SMEDAN programmes so that the state could benefit from the good gesture of empowering the people through creation and developing of  small businesses,” he promised.

    Responding, the Director General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, thanked the entourage for choosing  SMEDAN among government institutions to partner with on enterprise development and youth empowerment.

    ”I am indeed very delighted to have a high powered delegation from a state government in a quest for partnership  and collaboration on job creation. We are ready and capable of collaborating with you to extend the desired dividend of democracy to the people of Oyo State.

    ”The National Enterprises development Programme (NEDEP) and One Local Government , One Project (OLOP) programme have a lot of potentials that will benefit your people; we promise to constantly engage your state so that all the content of NEDEP will be extended to your people.”

  • SMEDAN, UNDP train women entrepreneurs

    SMEDAN, UNDP train women entrepreneurs

    •Target CBN’s 220b MSME funds

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have concluded the second phase of their economic empowerment programme for women-owned Cooperative Societies in Enugu, Enugu State.

    The programme drew from select states with hopes on leveraging the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) fund recently launched in Abuja by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Over 60 women, representing various Cooperative Societies from the North and South of the country, benefitted from entrepreneurship training.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director-General, SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, who was represented on  by the Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mrs Justina David, said the agency would explore the possibility of securing funding for the women-owned cooperative societies from the N220b CBN intervention fund.

    Commending the women for their commitment throughout the training, he noted that the women are now in a better position to access the CBN’s MSME Fund, as well as other soft loans from the federal government-owned development finance institutions. The institutions, he said, include the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

    Bature urged them to ensure that knowledge acquired in the course of the training reflect in their daily business activities. He called on the women to serve as examples and a shining light to other women entrepreneurs in their various communities.

    He commended the UNDP in Nigeria for their commitment to enhancing the capacity and development of women and making the training a reality.

    The UNDP Country Director, Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, urged women to share their knowledge with other members of their respective cooperative societies, noting that most African countries have similar demographic pattern where women form up to 50 per cent or more of the population.

  • SMEDAN:SMEs should reposition to attract funding

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has urged entrepreneurs to re-position their businesses for local and international equity financing.

    Its Southwest Co-ordinator, Mr Gbenga Ogundeji, spoke in Lagos.

    He said equity financing, contrary to other opinions, could mitigate the challenges of development funds.

    Ogundeji said: “Equity financing is the method of raising capital by selling a company’s stock to investors and in return for the investment, the shareholders receive ownership interests in the company. It should serve as an alternative to bank loan or debt financing, but the only challenge we have here is that some of the basic systems have yet to be put in place. Another major issue we should address is that of partnership; we always ring it into the ears of SME owners that they should form partnerships to build stronger systems.

    “A situation where there are so many micro businesses that are barely making peanut profits without standard accounts, structure and so on, it will be difficult to access loan or equity.There are so many equity firms that have been approaching us to partner with our vibrant businesses, we really advise that equity be tapped into and let’s see how it goes.The complaints of lack of access to funds could be reduced if we begin a venture on equity financing,” he added.

     

  • ‘Govt plans inter-party collaboration against terrorism’

    ‘Govt plans inter-party collaboration against terrorism’

    The Federal Government is planning an inter-party collaboration on counter-terrorism.

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at a briefing on “Roll Out of Nigeria’s Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism”, organise by his office, stressed the need for the political elite to see counter-terrorism as an apolitical campaign.

    He said Federal Government had initiated an economic revitalisation programme with the six governors in the Northeast to reverse the economic devastation caused by terrorists’ attacks.

    According to him, an inter-ministerial committee had been put in place for state-federal partnership in the revitalisation programme on the platform of the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).

    He listed the ministries and agencies to include Ministries of Agriculture, Power, Finance, Works, Water Resources, Health, Education, Transport, Communication, Culture and Tourism and Industry-Trade and Investments.

    Others are Solid Minerals Development, Science and Technology, Youth Development, Lands and Housing, SMEDAN, Budget Office, National Planning Commission, Development Partners and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said his office had secured about 40 convictions in terror-related cases in the past two years.

    He said it had been difficult for the Federal Government to identify the terrorists’ sponsors, a situation which he said, had made it impossible to prosecute them.

     

    Dasuki noted the desperation of the terrorists to ignite a religious war between Christians and Muslims to actualise a war scenario, which would aid their operations.

    He said the terrorists, however, do not observe religious discrimination when attacking their targets, adding that they have attacked churches and mosques.

    “We will launch an aggressive inter-faith response between Christians and Muslims to create awareness on terrorism. Our major goal is to unite them against terrorism.

    “Government will build inter-party collaboration for counter-terrorism to ensure party affiliations do not hinder stakeholders from contributing to efforts targeted at countering extremism,” the NSA said.

    He noted that terrorism was un-Islamic, despite the campaign by the extremists to that effect.

    Dasuki dismissed the erroneous belief in some quarters that counter-terrorism was a campaign against Muslims.

    The National Security Adviser said the counter-terrorism campaign must be an all-Nigerian affair, adding that everybody had a role to play in the actualisation of the campaign.

     

  • ITF, SMEDAN, BoI to train, fund  youths

    The Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Prof Sambo Longmas Wapmuk has said the agency is partnering the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to train youths in skills acquisition and provide funding for them after graduation.

    According to him, at the end of the three-month training, they will be handed over to SMEDAN, which will teach them how to access funding from the BoI.

    Wapmuk, who spoke during the presentation of an award to him by a group in Abuja, said ITF is expected to provide skilled manpower for the economy.

    He said: “The National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) is part of industrial revolution plan, thereby charging ITF with the responsibility of providing skill manpower for the economy. The steady growth of the economy depends strongly on constant skills acquisition by the nation’s youths.

    “The ITF has been directed by the Minister of Trade and Investment Mr. OlusegunAganga to carry out skill gap survey, so skills that are lacking can be set up. ITF has started the survey with UNIDO; this partnership has identified the instruments to be used. The only challenge now is making funds available for UNIDO, Bureau of Statistics, and other stakeholders involved.

    “Trainig is on going in five trade areas. It is ongoing in Lagos, Lokoja, Abuja and Kano. ITF is embarking on the second phase of the training. NEDEP is seeking to involve all states of the federation, in the past it was disjointed. By the middle of 2014 ITF should set up skills council in all states of the federation.”

    On the award given to him, he said he has been able to carry his management staff along, and that the foundation giving the award must have seen sincerity in him before giving him the award