Business

FG Boosts SMEs By 19m In 3 Year – SMEDAN

Published

10 years ago

August 19, 2015

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria grew from 17. 3 million in 2010 to 37.1 million in 2013, an increase of about 114.45 per cent, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Masari, announced this at a news Forum on yestersday in Abuja.
NAN reports that the agency’s mandate, according to its enabling Act of 2003, includes initiation and articulation of policy ideas for micro, small, and medium enterprises growth and development nationwide.
He said that SMEDAN’s efforts led to the increase in the number of MSMEs employees from 32.4 million to 59.7 million during the period, representing about 84.3 per cent growth.
Masari added that MSMEs contribution to the Gross Domestic Products rose from 46.54 per cent to 48.47 percent in 2013, adding that the National Policy on MSMEs had been reviewed and upgraded to ensure a robust framework for the sub-sector.
Enumerating the agency’s feats under its One Local Government One Product Programme (OLOP), the DG explained that 55,000 cooperative societies had been formed and registered nationwide.
“As part of the value chain analysis and baseline survey, the agency selected products in all the 774 local government areas based on competitive and comparative advantages, ’’ he said.
According to him, the agency provides business development services support to Federal Government programmes for youth empowerment, leading to the “achievement of laudable results in the area of job creation and poverty alleviation’’.
He added that the services were based on the Business Support for Youth Enterprise Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).
“Effective access to markets for MSMEs has been created through the establishment of e-commerce platforms through the internet.’’
Masari also outlined the challenges being faced by MSMEs in Nigeria, including weak access to affordable finance, poor state of infrastructure, multiple taxes, aversion to joint ownership and lack of succession plan.
Other challenges that hindered MSMEs capacities are financial mismanagement, absence of qualifies personnel, low capacity to engage in research and documentation as well as inadequate markets for their products.
The DG called for the institution and funding of a one-month mandatory vocational and entrepreneurship training for NYSC members for job, wealth creation and poverty alleviation, to address the challenges.
“If the agency (SMEDAN) is to achieve its lofty objectives, like its other counterparts in other parts of the world, it has to be adequately funded.’’
Masari, who was appointed in 2013, also urged government to provide technological support for MSMEs, to promote ICT, research, development and innovation in addition to a workable Credit Guarantee Scheme in Nigeria.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

24 hours ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu