Business
SMEDAN Trained 25,000 Small Business Owners In 2015-DG
The Small and Medium
Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) trained no fewer than 25,000 small business owners in various vocational and enterprise development programmes in 2015, an official said.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Malam Bature Masari, who made the disclosure to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the agency had strategised to provide more services to Nigerians in the current year.
“No fewer than 25,000 small business owners were trained under various vocational and enterprise development training programmes of the agency in 2015. “This includes about 4,000 small business operators trained under SMEDAN’s 2015 capital project implementation across all states of the federation and the Federal capital, Abuja.
“In addition to that, more than 1,000 business owners and starters have received various trainings, mentoring and counselling under the National Enterprise Development Policy piloted by SMEDAN.
“Also, more than 20,000 other business operators accessed SMEDAN empowerment and training programmes through the implementation of the 2015/2016 zonal intervention capital programmes of the National Assembly,’’ Masari said .
He said the zonal intervention capital programmes of the National Assembly were aimed at bringing succour and economic empowerment to Nigerians in the senatorial districts and federal constituencies. Masari said the agency had adopted strategies to provide its services to more Nigerians by redesigning its training programmes to run throughout the year.
“From this year the agency will be conducting its training programmes quarterly instead of waiting till the last quarter of the year,’’ he said. Masari said the agency had strategised to drive the Federal Government’s policy of massive enterprise and vocational training for the youth through the invigoration and strengthening of its monitoring and mentoring mechanism of U-win.
He said the policy would also be achieved through other programmes, such as Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship and Tertiary Institutions’ Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
