Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has helped praises on SMEDAN’s strategy, describing it as a bold, people-focused initiative that seeks to provide Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support for Nigerian MSMEs.

The Minister lauded the strategy when she paid a working visit to the headquarters of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) at Idu in Abuja, where she conducted an extensive inspection of the Agency’s Common Facility Centres (CFCs) dedicated to Garment Production, Furniture Making, Recycling, and Food Packaging.

Dr. Oduwole applauded the tangible progress made by SMEDAN under the leadership of its Director General, Mr. Charles Odii, saying that the G.R.O.W. Nigeria strategy directly aligns with and advances the Nigeria First Policy championed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

She further noted that SMEDAN’s focused interventions — including the establishment of industry-grade common facilities — are clear indicators of Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen local production, boost job creation, and enhance the competitiveness of indigenous enterprises.

“It is heartening to witness first-hand how these well-equipped centres are empowering small businesses to thrive. The G.R.O.W. Nigeria framework is a transformative model that encapsulates the vision of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods and supporting value addition across the MSME sector.”

In his remarks, Mr. Charles Odii reaffirmed SMEDAN’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through strategic partnerships, enterprise support services, and sustainable industrial clusters across the country.

Meanwhile, the visit further reinforces the continuous commitment of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to support SMEDAN in unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.