The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has launched a comprehensive capacity-building programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, operating in clusters across Kano State as part of efforts to improve their competitiveness, productivity and sustainability.
The initiative, implemented under SMEDAN’s Enterprise Cluster Development, ECD, programme, is designed to provide participating businesses and cluster associations with technical support, modern production technologies and enhanced business management skills to strengthen their capacity and expand access to both local and international markets.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by SMEDAN’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Moshood Lawal, the agency’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Odii, represented by the Kano State Manager, Bashir Jamfalam, said the intervention would empower enterprises to improve product quality, enhance operational efficiency and position their products for greater market competitiveness.
Odii described enterprise clusters as critical drivers of MSME development, noting that collaboration among businesses helps reduce production costs, encourages innovation and strengthens the ability of Nigerian products to compete effectively, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
He added that the programme also incorporates a strong sustainability component, with viable enterprises to be selected for solar power deployment and other clean energy interventions aimed at reducing operating costs while promoting environmentally responsible business practices.
The SMEDAN chief explained that the initiative aligns with global best practices promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, adding that it is expected to stimulate inclusive economic growth, reduce poverty and generate employment opportunities, especially for women and young entrepreneurs.
Beyond Kano, the agency said the Enterprise Cluster Development programme is also being implemented in Delta State, expressing confidence that the intervention will improve profitability for participating businesses, strengthen the visibility of enterprise clusters and increase the contribution of MSMEs to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product through industrialisation and economic diversification.
