The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has charged trainers under the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Project to produce globally competitive entrepreneurs capable of building innovative and investment-ready businesses.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, gave the charge on Monday at the commencement of the project’s two-week Training of Trainers programme in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of the DG’s Office, Onesi-Lawani, Odii urged the participants to become catalysts for nurturing technology-driven entrepreneurs who can build scalable enterprises and attract local and international investment.
He disclosed that the ACE Project received more than 1,100 applications from across the country, out of which the Project Management Consortium shortlisted 80 candidates in Business Management and Artificial Intelligence before selecting 30 participants after a rigorous interview process.
According to him, the successful candidates will become ACE-certified trainers equipped with the skills to mentor young Nigerians with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial potential.
Odii observed that although Nigeria has access to significant funding opportunities, the country lacks enough investment-ready businesses capable of attracting available capital.
He, therefore, urged the trainers to focus on developing entrepreneurs who can establish globally competitive enterprises that will create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
The SMEDAN boss identified fintech, agritech, healthtech, logistics, mobility and the creative economy as sectors offering enormous opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
He explained that the creative economy encompasses industries such as digital media, fashion, gaming, animation and film.
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Odii further noted that Nigeria remains Africa’s leading startup hub, with five of the continent’s eight unicorn companies based in the country.
He challenged the trainers to help young Nigerians build billion-dollar businesses capable of advancing the country’s ambition of becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies.
Expressing confidence in the programme, Odii said the training would strengthen participants’ commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development across Nigeria.
The Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship Project is a SMEDAN initiative being implemented in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The project is designed to promote entrepreneurship education, digital innovation, business incubation, institutional capacity development and policy support, while equipping young Nigerians with the skills, mentorship and networks required to build scalable and globally competitive businesses.
(NAN)
