The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has commended the “GROW Nigerian” strategy which aims to boost the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, by providing guidance, resources, opportunities, and workforce support.
The initiative, which is championed by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, is described as a bold, people-focused scheme.
Speaking during a working visit to the headquarters of SMEDAN, in Abuja, Oduwole said the GROW Nigeria strategy directly aligns with the Nigeria’s First Policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister noted that SMEDAN’s focused interventions, including the establishment of industry-grade common facilities, are clear indicators of Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen local production, boost job creation, and enhance the competitiveness of indigenous enterprises.
She noted that, the G.R.O.W. Nigeria framework is a transformative model that encapsulates the vision of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods and supporting value addition across the MSME sector,” she said.
Oduwole, who conducted an extensive inspection of the Agency’s Common Facility Centres, CFCs, dedicated to Garment Production, Furniture Making, Recycling, and Food Packaging, expressed profound admiration for the tangible progress made by SMEDAN under the leadership of its Director General, Charles Odii.
On his part, the Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for MSMEs through strategic partnerships, enterprise support services, and sustainable industrial clusters across the country.
A statement by the Head of Corporate Affairs at SMEDAN, Moshood Lawal, said the visit reinforces the continuous commitment of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to support SMEDAN in unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
