Vincent Ezenagu
| The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has asked entrepreneurs to harness emerging financing and institutional frameworks under the Inspire–Create–Start–Scale (ICSS) programme to accelerate business growth and strengthen Nigeria’s economy. |
| The Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, made the call at the launch of the ICSS4ALL initiative in Abuja, which he described as a structured pathway for enterprise development from ideation to market access. |
| The initiative was developed by German Agency for International Cooperation in collaboration with SMEDAN, Kaduna Business School and GOPA Consultancy.Odii appealed to financial institutions to align their lending products with the improved risk profile of entrepreneurs trained under the programme. |
| “To our ICSS alumni, what you have earned is real and recognised. Stay connected to this ecosystem, access the financing you now qualify for, and scale your businesses,” he said. |
| Data presented at the event showed that more than 14,000 entrepreneurs have already been trained under the ICSS framework, while over 42,000 individuals have been reached across six states. |
| The programme has also led to the creation of 17,967 jobs, with women accounting for 60 per cent, highlighting its role in promoting inclusive economic growth. |
| Country Director of GIZ Nigeria, Markus Wagner said the programme is designed to address persistent challenges facing small businesses, particularly limited access to structured support systems and affordable finance. |
| He noted that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 97 per cent of businesses, nearly 90 per cent of employment and close to half of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. |
| Wagner added that the ICSSLearn digital platform would further expand access to entrepreneurship training, especially among young Nigerians, while helping to standardise capacity-building efforts and improve the creditworthiness of small businesses. |