Abuja - Mediaage NG News – The FCT Manager of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Mary Kolawole on Wednesday said the aim of SMEDAN is to ensure the growth of small and medium businesses to create room for development to the next stage.
She also revealed that the Nigerian government is intentional to help small businesses go beyond mere putting food on the table.
She disclosed this in a training titled ‘One Local Government, One Program (OLOP), organised by the agency. She said SMEDAN is keen to see small businesses evolve and grow bigger, “SMEDAN is for growing businesses and assisting not just families but, the federal government”, she said.
Mrs. Kolawole also brought to the attention of the attendees the importance of understanding the need to be prepared and committed, as the government has shown interest in assisting and developing small businesses.
While encouraging them to ensure they set pay themselves monthly from their businesses, no matter how little, she said this is to promote managing their finances effectively.
She advised that they set priority on well packaged products, as good packaging adds more value to a product for increased pricing. This include getting their products registered with the relevant Nigerian authorities like the National Agency for Food and Drug Adminstration Control (NAFDAC), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The Facilitator at the event, Samuel Samson said the training is for the benefit of different Cooperatives in the society. “It will help them run their businesses effectively and manage their finances”, he stated.
“When you train people, they avoid a lot of pitfalls in business. As a result of this type of training, most of them are running their businesses very well now, as against closing up.
“We are in the era when businesses are folding up. It happens because, most of them have not been trained. So, the ones that have benefited from SMEDAN, the success rate has been very very high”, Mr. Samson concluded.