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Participants at the workshop
By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe
The 2021 survey by National Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (nMaSMEs) revealed that there are 39.6 million nMSME employing 62.5 million persons which accounts for 80.2 per cent of the labour force,.
The assertion was made by the Director General /CEO of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odili saying that it is contributing 46.31 per cent and 6.21 per cent to national GDP and exports respectively.
This is just as 50 rural enterprises in Gombe State have commenced a 3-day training on financial employment initiatives to develop and grow small scale businesses.
The training is organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with Gombe State government.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training, in Gombe on Wednesday, Odili said that the programme was designed to provide an end-to-end business development service to the rural entrepreneurs.
Odili who was represented by the Acting Director of Partnership and Coordination, Prof Adeyinka Fusha also said that the training was targeted at business owners who were at the bottom of the pyramids as a supportive mechanism to enhance rural entrepreneurship, competitiveness, job creation and financial inclusion.
According to him, “As you may be aware, the Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (nMaSMEs) sub sector has played an important role in contributing to the economic development of many countries around the world.”
He added that, “The sub sector accounts for the majority of the enterprises in Nigeria and also accounts for the highest number of jobs created in Nigeria’s economy.”
The DG also said that the training has three components, namely sensitisation, capacity building and empowerment grant.
While declaring the training opened, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said that the programme was timely following the economic hardship in the country.
He said that, “The programme would contribute to the economic development of the state and the country at large.”
Inuwa Yahaya who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, office of the SSG, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adamu, appreciated SMEDAN and reiterated government’s commitment to work with it for more opportunities for rural businesses.
He also said that the state government had organised an investment summit which attracted many investors into the state saying, ”This may not be unconnected with the business friendly environment of the state,”
In his remarks, Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed said that the training would enable the rural enterprise to acquire the needed business techniques as well as empower them with knowledge and skills.
He further said that Governor Inuwa Yahaya had empowered over 2,000 Small, Medium Enterprise in the state and also established 1000 hectares of land Industrial park to serve as an export processing zone.
He said, ”This is a platform that will attract domestic and foreign investors to come and invest”.
He commended SMEDAN for organising the training and also encouraged the participant to be attentive, learn the techniques that will improve their businesses.
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