By Mokobia Rita.
ABUJA/Nigeria: Local government chairmen from Delta State have opened discussions with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on ways to bring more enterprise development opportunities to communities across the state.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Isaiah Onoriode Esiovwa, met with the SMEDAN Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Odii, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
The engagement centred on how local government structures could be used more effectively to support entrepreneurs, encourage economic activities in rural communities and improve access to programmes designed for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
For Delta’s local councils, the discussions provide an opportunity to explore practical areas of cooperation with SMEDAN, particularly in communities where small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs require access to skills, business support and other resources to grow.
Odii said stronger partnerships with local governments were important to ensuring that enterprise development initiatives reach people at the community level.
He reaffirmed the agency’s interest in working with sub-national institutions to support small businesses, expand livelihood opportunities and strengthen local economies.
The Delta delegation was also taken on a tour of SMEDAN’s operational and innovation facilities, giving the council chairmen an opportunity to see some of the agency’s programmes and infrastructure designed to support entrepreneurship, innovation and business development.
The visit brought the federal agency and the local government leaders into direct discussions on how existing structures at the grassroots could complement national efforts to promote MSME development.
The engagement ended with both sides expressing interest in closer cooperation, with the discussions expected to provide a basis for further collaboration on enterprise development and economic activities within Delta’s local communities.
The development comes amid growing efforts by SMEDAN to deepen its engagement with sub-national stakeholders as part of efforts to extend enterprise support beyond major urban centres.
