The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria- SMEDAN has organised a capacity building programme on grant and growth support for Business Membership Organisations-BMOs, NGOs and trade associations in Kaduna.
Declaring the three day event open, Director General of the Agency, Dr Umaru Dikko Radda said the programme was designed to impact on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises-MSMEs sector through umbrella bodies and BMOs.
Represented by Mallam Ahmad Madaki, the DG explained that SMEDAN was established to facilitate the development of MSMEs in a structured and efficient manner with the overall objective of alleviating poverty, expanding gainful employment opportunities, wealth creation and sustainable economic growth.
Dr Umaru Dikko Radda pointed out that the agency is injecting innovative ideas through its tailored made programmes designed to combat the alarming rates of unemployment, improving the economy, promoting diversification as well as dealing with the negative effects of covid nineteen pandemic.
In a remark, Governor Nasiru El Rufa’i said as part of its commitment towards promoting MSMEs, the state government built and handed over an office accommodation to SMEDAN.
Represented by Mr Shedwak Kakaki, the Governor expressed optimism that the programme would go a long way in the sustainability of MSMEs.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of a dummy cheque of five hundred thousand naira to each Business Membership Organisation, NGO and trade association.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mallam Aminu Ibrahim Lere of the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture commended SMEDAN for the gesture and pledged to share the grant judiciously among members.
Usman Sani