The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a new strategic framework—“GROW Nigerian”—to drive job creation and boost revenue across the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the country.
Director-general of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, disclosed this during a media parley in Abuja with the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN).
Odii explained that the initiative, which stands for Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce Support (GROW), is designed to provide a comprehensive support system for small businesses. “This strategy is our theory of change,” he said. “By providing the right combination of guidance, tools, market access, and workforce development, we believe Nigerian MSMEs can overcome persistent obstacles and unlock their full growth potential.”
According to him, the GROW Nigerian blueprint will offer structured mentorship, business advisory services, and regulatory guidance to help MSMEs navigate operational hurdles. “We are equipping MSMEs with access to funding, technology, and essential infrastructure to enhance their efficiency and long-term viability,” he added.
Odii noted that market access was also a key pillar of the initiative. “We are creating platforms that allow small businesses to showcase their products and services while connecting them to larger markets,” he said. “Capacity-building is central to our approach, and we are rolling out training programmes to improve skills, drive innovation, and increase productivity within the sector.”
Describing GROW Nigerian as a national economic strategy, Odii said, “This is not just another campaign—it’s a strategic blueprint to accelerate economic growth by empowering MSMEs in key sectors of the Nigerian economy.”
He disclosed that the agency had already made significant progress in 2025. “In just the first quarter of this year, SMEDAN interventions have directly resulted in the creation of over 90,000 jobs,” he said.
Odii revealed that the agency’s focus under the GROW initiative would be concentrated on eight sectors considered vital to economic diversification and inclusive growth. These include agriculture value chains, fashion and textiles, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing and production, education, the Nigerian digital economy, innovation, and the adoption of new technologies.
He also highlighted major barriers facing MSMEs in Nigeria. “These include difficulty in accessing capital, high operating costs, and regulatory burdens such as multiple taxation, high registration costs, and bureaucratic bottlenecks,” he said.
Odii pointed to additional challenges such as inadequate physical and technological infrastructure, especially in rural communities, as well as poor market access and limited exposure to innovation and digital tools. “Many MSMEs are still cut off from the kind of infrastructure and ecosystem support they need to thrive,” he noted.
According to him, SMEDAN’s objective is to bridge these gaps in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors. “If SMEDAN, working with key stakeholders, can empower entrepreneurs with the right mix of knowledge, capital, team support, and market access, then we will see MSMEs building sustainable businesses that create jobs, improve lives, and deliver long-term value to the economy,” Odii stated.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to delivering results through the GROW Nigerian strategy, saying it represents SMEDAN’s most ambitious push yet to reposition the MSME sector as a driver of national development.
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