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FG repositions SMEDAN to develop SMEs

By on August 9, 2013

The Federal Government has repositioned the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency to enable it effectively develop entrepreneurship in the country.

This was confirmed by the Director-General, SMEDAN, Mr. Bature Masari, during a chat with journalists on the forthcoming World Cup of the Students for Advancement and Global Entrepreneurship.

He said the Federal Government would do everything possible to ensure that youth empowerment was given top priority in its programme.

To this end, he said more funds would be made available to the agency for SME development.

Masari said, “We want to give you the assurance that the Federal Government is ready and has been doing everything to ensure that youth empowerment is given the right support in every initiative taken by the government.

“And right now, there is a new thinking on the part of the government to ensure that entrepreneurship development is given the right of place in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

“That is why SMEDAN, which is the agency saddled with the responsibility of leading the fight for the development of SMEs in the country, is properly being repositioned, funded and empowered to ensure that we continue to provide leadership and direction for Small and Medium Enterprises and entrepreneurship development in the country.”

The SMEDAN DG said the hosting of the entrepreneurship competition was another clear indication that the government was ready to commit itself to the development of youths.

This, he noted, would help to develop the nation economically and politically.

Masari said, “I want to assure the Nigerian contingent that will be taking part in the competition that the government is watching.

“Nigeria’s performances in previous editions are a clear indication that we are interested and ready to embrace the culture of entrepreneurship, which is the surest way for the nation to develop economically.”

Also speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SAGE, Prof. Curtis DeBerg, described the contingents from about 12 countries as “untapped army of service providers,” who were in a hurry to make a difference in entrepreneurship.

He said, “University students are an untapped army of service providers that will inspire the young people in schools. They believe they are capable of making a change. Many graduates are without jobs.

“They tell you I have a degree, but the degrees don’t just add value anymore. You’ve got to tell you employer what you can do to add value to them immediately.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Youth Empowerment, Mr. Obi Adim, who also spoke at the event, said his office had adopted SAGE as the pre-youth component of its programme.

“We are going to run SAGE in all the secondary schools in Nigeria and I believe that if we can develop our youths and give them entrepreneurship skills, Nigeria will move in the right direction. I believe that SAGE is the hope of Nigeria,” he added.

 

 

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