SMEDAN, Gombe govt trains rural entrepreneurs on financial empowerment initiative

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with Gombe State government has begun a three-day training on financial empowerment initiative for 50 rural enterprises in Gombe State.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training, Director General and Chief Executive SMEDAN Mr. Charles Odili said the programme was designed to provide an end-to-end business development service to the rural entrepreneurs.

Odili said the training was also targeted at business owners who were at the bottom of the pyramids as a supportive mechanism to enhance rural entrepreneurship, competitiveness, job creation and financial inclusion.

“ As you may be aware, the Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (nMaSMEs) sub sector has played an important role in contributing to the economic development of many countries around the world.

” The sub sector accounts for the majority of the enterprises in Nigeria and also accounts for the highest number of jobs created in Nigeria’s economy.

“ The most recent National nMSMEs survey of 2021 revealed that there were 39.6 million nMSME employing 62.5 million persons which accounts for 80.2 per cent of the labour force, contributing to 46.31 per cent and 6.21 per cent to national GDP and exports respectively.

Represented by Prof Adeyinka Fusha Ag. Director of Partnership and Coordination SMEDAN said the training has three components, namely sensitisation, capacity building and empowerment grant.

Declaring the training opened, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State said the programme was timely following the economic hardship in the country,” The programme would contribute to the economic development of the state and the country at large.”

Represented by Alhaji Abdulkadir Adamu Permanent Secretary General Duties office of the Secretary to the State Government, the governor appreciated SMEDAN and reiterated government’s commitment to work with SMEDAN for more opportunities for rural businesses.

He said the state government had organised an investment summit which attracted many investors into the state” This may not be unconnected with the business friendly environment of the state,” he said.

In his remark Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed Commissioner Ministry for Trade, Industry and Tourism Gombe State said the training would enable the rural enterprise to acquire the needed business techniques as well as empower them with knowledge and skills.

He said Gov Yahaya had empowered over 2,000 Small, Medium Enterprise in the state and also established 1000 hectares of land Industrial park to serve as an export processing zone.

He said,” This is a platform that will attract domestic and foreign investors to come and invest,” he said.

He commended SMEDAN for organising the training and also encouraged the participant to be attentive, learn the techniques that will improve their badnesses.