Monday, July 20, 2026

SMEDAN distributes business equipment to 135 entrepreneurs in Enugu

The trainees were given generators, mixers, ovens, sewing machines and mobile phone repair tools.

• November 21, 2021
SMEDAN
SMEDAN

No fewer than 135 entrepreneurs in Enugu on Saturday received business start-up kits distributed by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The Deputy Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion Department, SMEDAN, Abuja, Gbenga Ogundeji, said the programme was focused on making youths and women to be self-reliant.

Mr Ogundeji said the recipients were trained on entrepreneurship where they were taught how to run successful businesses, develop good business ideas, marketing and planning, adding that at the end, certificates would be issued to them.

He explained that similar training and sharing of business materials were going simultaneously in other states of the South-East.

“We are in all the five South-East states to empower 750 entrepreneurs at the rate of 135 each and we are moving next to the South-South,” he said.

According to him, beneficiaries were trained on three vocational skills such as fashion design, catering services and repair of handsets.

“We brought in professionals who taught them all they needed to do to be successful business men and women.

“Today, we are sharing equipment for them to start their own businesses immediately and with all these, they don’t have problems doing their own businesses.

“With the start-up kits, they can be their own bosses and employers of labour,” he said.

He, however, added that people were on ground to monitor how they cope and manage with the business.

Mr Ogundeji noted that the SMEDAN idea was to empower 5,365 entrepreneurs across the six geographical zones, including Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the agency has carried out similar trainings in all the seven states of North-West and South-West.

A beneficiary, Ebere Mbah, said the training and materials given to her would make her self-dependent and help her family in the long run.

“I never expected that I will be given a mixer and an oven to start baking meat pie and other confectionery. I thank SMEDAN for making my dream a reality,” she said.

Another participant, Jane Francis, said the training was fantastic, saying she could now own a business of her own.

The trainees were given generators, mixers, ovens, sewing machines and mobile phone repair tools.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya

Politics

Group hails Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence as NBA president

Women in Business and Politics congratulated Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya on her election as NBA president, stating that her emergence marks a milestone for women’s leadership.

Olayemi Cardoso

Economy

CBN faces growth-inflation dilemma as MPC meets amid calls to hold or cut rates

Most economists expect the MPC to leave the MPR, the benchmark interest rate, unchanged at 26.5 per cent when it announces its decision on Tuesday.

Canadian immigration officials

Diaspora

Canada warns Nigerians, other nationals against immigration scammers

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a scam alert on Sunday, warning the public against paying “fees for a chance to be sponsored”.

40 children, women drown in Jigawa boat crash

Rights

40 children, women drown in Jigawa boat crash

A boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in the Malamawa community, Ringim council area of Jigawa, leaving at least 40 people drowned.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC's Bola Oyebamiji and the scenarios of violence in Osun State

Heading 2

Osun governorship poll gathers momentum amid pre-election violence 

Mr Adeniran said political thuggery was still dominant in the state despite efforts of security agents to check criminal activities.

Lightning strike photo used to illustrate this story (Credit: Britannica)

States

Lightning strike kills six people in Adamawa

The police command in Adamawa has confirmed the death of six people following a lightning strike in the Ganye council.