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ABUJA – The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has officially commenced a comprehensive capacity-building programme for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) clusters in Kano State.
Operating under the agency’s Enterprise Cluster Development (ECD) initiative, the programme aims to strengthen the competitiveness, productivity, and long-term sustainability of local businesses.
The Kano State Manager of SMEDAN, Bashir Jamfalam, who represented the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Odii, at the event pointed out that the targeted training is designed to equip cluster enterprises and their development associations with critical technical support, modern production technologies, and advanced business management skills.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday issued by Moshood Lawal, Head, Corporate Affairs Unit, SMEDAN.
He said through these interventions, SMEDAN aims to help local businesses improve product quality, increase operational efficiency, and successfully access both domestic and international markets.
Mr Odii also emphasised that enterprise clusters are vital for accelerating MSME growth by driving collaboration and lowering production costs.
He noted that these joint initiatives are crucial for positioning Nigerian products to compete globally, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A key highlight of the Kano initiative is SMEDAN’s focus on sustainable industrial development.
As part of the programme, viable cluster enterprises will be identified for “solarization” and other clean energy interventions.
This transition to renewable energy is intended to significantly reduce overhead costs while fostering environmentally friendly business practices.
Aligning with global best practices championed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), SMEDAN’s ECD programme seeks to foster inclusive economic growth, alleviate poverty, and create meaningful employment opportunities for women and youth.
The same programme is being replicated in Delta State and the Agency is optimistic that the Intervention will yield measurable economic outcomes, including increased profitability for participants, enhanced brand recognition for the clusters, and a stronger contribution from MSMEs to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through industrialisation and diversification.
