To boost support for female business owners, Nigeria's Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has introduced a new brand to refocus the agency's efforts on creating jobs, promoting rural industry, and improving the lives of small and medium enterprise (SME) sub-sector in a sustainable way.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Charles Odii, the Director General of SMEDAN, highlighted that the new brand is aimed at ensuring success for small business owners, particularly women, who make up more than 70 percent of SMEs in the country.
Odii stressed that revealing the brand on International Women’s Day signifies the agency’s dedication to empowering women.
Every year, International Women’s Day is observed globally on March 8.
The theme for the 2024 celebration is #InspireInclusion. Together, we can all #InspireInclusion.
The statement indicated, “As the agency responsible for helping nano businesses become micro, micro become small, and small become medium, we recognize the importance of change and progress. This is not just for the sake of it, but because adaptation and evolution are crucial for relevance and impact.”
“Our aim is to clearly communicate our purpose, strengthen our relationship with the businesses we assist, as well as the local and international partners we collaborate with. Most importantly, we want to assure SMEs that we are #HereForProsperity, their prosperity.”
“We have developed a brand that is more relatable, modern, approachable, and vibrant. The foundation of our economy deserves to be supported by an agency that reflects the excellence they demonstrate daily and aim for.”
“We intentionally chose to announce this on International Women’s Day due to the importance of women to our mission for prosperity. Women are responsible for nearly 75 percent of SMEs in the country, and they have also proven to be investment multipliers, on whose hard work the economy relies.”
The SMEDAN Director General also pledged a renewed commitment to empowering women, ensuring they receive the rightful support and acknowledgment for their productivity and contributions.
He also stated that the commitment starts within SMEDAN, recognizing the significant contributions of women who have dedicated decades to strengthening Nigeria’s economy.
“As part of our revitalization, SMEDAN is recommitting itself to empowering women, ensuring that they receive deserved support and recognition for their productivity and contributions. We will begin with the women of SMEDAN, many of whom have invested decades of their lives in building a solid foundation for the pillars that support the Nigerian economy. The new SMEDAN will highlight them, provide them with the necessary tools and resources to make a greater impact, and achieve personal growth.”
“While we will continue to actively create growth opportunities for women, none will be left behind. Our commitment to SMEs remains. We will facilitate growth and prosperity, provide guidance, resources, connections to opportunities, and ensure workforce support. Our agency, which looks to the future and aims to serve the people and government, will no longer be seen as working for only a few, but for the benefit of all.”
"SMEDAN-20 promoted ambitious goals, small beginnings, and rapid advancement, while SMEDAN 2.0 aims for prosperity for Nigerian entrepreneurs and the country. The statement emphasized that when Nigerian businesspeople thrive, so does Nigeria."
Meanwhile, at an event commemorating International Women’s Day, Mrs. Omube-Pepple Linda, the Director of the Partnership and Coordination Department, stated that SMEDAN is dedicated to helping women-owned businesses in the country grow and expand.
