A civil society group is pushing SMEDAN to take its programmes beyond major cities. The Social Transparency and Youth Leadership Advancement Initiative (STYLAI) wants rural entrepreneurs to benefit too.
Jacob Okpanachi heads STYLAI. He made the call during World MSMEs Day celebrations in Abuja on Sunday.
Rural communities have more business owners than city centres, Okpanachi noted. Yet many farmers and small traders don't even know SMEDAN's programmes exist.
"I think there should be a better way to reach them because those in rural communities are more in number than those in the city centres," he said.
Information gaps are keeping rural entrepreneurs locked out. Access to government support remains a distant dream for most village-based business owners.
But Okpanachi praised SMEDAN's transparency record. His organisation works with the agency to ensure accountability in how it helps small businesses.
Recent improvements have boosted confidence. "From what we have seen, the processes of engaging small business owners are becoming more transparent and accountable," Okpanachi told reporters.
SMEDAN now offers interest-free financing to organised groups. It's also partnering with the Corporate Affairs Commission to help entrepreneurs formalise their businesses.
These moves will encourage registration. Formalised businesses can access government support more easily.
SMEDAN's boss Charles Odii backed the expansion drive. He reaffirmed his agency's commitment to skills training and business support services.
Odii said policymakers must listen before they decide. "It is not okay for us to sit in comfortable offices and make policies for market women and men without understanding their challenges," he noted.
SMEDAN has shifted its approach completely. The agency now consults traders and entrepreneurs directly before rolling out new programmes.
Accountability matters more than ever. Odii pledged regular engagements with journalists and civil society groups to review progress.
Partnership is the way forward. SMEDAN will keep collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria's small business ecosystem.
At the World MSMEs Day exhibition, success stories were on display. Beneficiaries showcased products and businesses they'd built using SMEDAN's training.
The exhibition proved the agency's impact. Entrepreneurs have acquired skills, launched ventures, and expanded operations through these interventions.
Growth is happening across sectors. The exhibition demonstrated real transformation in Nigeria's MSME landscape.
