By Abubakar Yunusa
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has certified 100 new trainers under its Integrated Capacity Improvement Scheme (ICIS).
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, SMEDAN’s Director General, Mr. Charles Odii, highlighted the crucial role capacity building plays in tackling the root causes of instability in Nigeria.
Mr. Odii emphasized the link between hunger and violence, stating: “Hunger leads to anger, and anger leads to violence.
“If you want to stop violence in Nigeria, the first thing to attack is hunger.”
He stressed that equipping individuals with the skills to earn a living would significantly reduce the likelihood of them engaging in violent activities.
The newly certified trainers, drawn from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will play a key role in delivering ICIS modules designed to foster entrepreneurial growth.
The program aims to empower Nigerians with the tools to build sustainable businesses, which in turn will contribute to national stability.
“This is just the beginning,” Odii remarked, expressing confidence that by June 2025, SMEDAN would train even more individuals.
“Today, 100 people are being injected into the ecosystem, and we are putting our money where our mouth is.”
Mr. Babafemi Oyediran, Team Lead of Entrepreneurship Education at GIZ Nigeria, a key partner in the initiative, called the graduation a pivotal moment in bolstering SMEDAN’s capacity.
He noted that the ICIS model is being embedded into Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring that the workforce is equipped with the skills necessary to drive sustainable growth in the SME sector.
One of the newly certified trainers, Mr. Babalola Adeleke, head of SMEDAN in Delta State, underscored the importance of the training.
“This is not the usual training we are used to. When I return to Delta, we will identify promising entrepreneurs and take them through this process, ensuring they follow the ICIS model to drive their businesses forward.”
