Over 20,000 micro-enterprises have been targeted to benefit from Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency SMEDAN Conditional Grant Scheme across twelve states of the country.
Director General of SMEDAN Dr Dikko Radda made this known while launching the 2021 Conditional Grant Scheme for micro enterprises in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The micro, small and medium enterprises is one of critical sub-sectors in the nation’s economy.
Currently, Nigeria has over 41.5 million MSMEs employing about 60 million people and contributing 49.78 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Director General Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Radda said over 90 percent of these micro enterprises are informal and populated by people at the bottom of the pyramid.
According to the DG, this year, the Agency is implementing the scheme in twelve states while beneficiaries will receive 50,000 naira grant to promote their business.
“This present initiative (Conditional Grant Scheme) looks to promoting the activities of micro enterprises across the country in the areas of capacity building, access to finance, business names registration with Corporate Affairs Commission, access to markets, workplace, technology and the delivery of post-intervention support services, Dr Radda added”
Dr Dikko Radda promised to extend the scheme to the remaining eight states, assuring to boost the MSMEs sub-sector to alleviate poverty, create wealth and provide job opportunities.
Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum appreciated SMEDAN for launching the Scheme in Maiduguri, where 2, 160 people from the state will benefit.
He said Borno state government has disbursed about three billion naira as grants and support to small enterprises in the last two years.
Governor Zulum remarked that his administration will not hesitate to render the needed assistance to individuals and communities based on needs and availability of resources.
Commissioner for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Babagana Malumbe said the Borno state E-Commerce platform was developed to enable citizens access services, increase internally generated revenue and promote regional trade.
Two of the beneficiaries, Adama Balla and Lawan Mustapha commended SMEDAN for considering persons with special needs and promised to use the fund for the purpose intended.
Our Correspondent reports that Borno E-Commerce was also launched during the event by Governor Babagana Zulum.
Dauda Iliya