The federal government says it is taking steps to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial training and access to funding for businesses across the country.

John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS4ALL) national convening in Abuja on Tuesday.

The theme of the event was “Nigerian MSMEs accelerating the national economy: strengthening MSMEs’ competitiveness in the Nigerian entrepreneurship ecosystem”.

The minister said that skills development without funding only fuels frustration among small business owners.

Mr Enoh identified the newly introduced ICSS GROW Fund as a decisive policy step to convert trained entrepreneurs into productive economic actors.

According to him, the ICSS GROW Fund represents a turning point in the programme’s evolution by directly linking capacity building with access to finance.

“That connection is what transforms a good programme into a genuine economic intervention,” he said.

Mr Enoh highlighted the strong backing the initiative had received from development partners, including GIZ and the German government, as well as financial institutions, sub-national governments and business development organisations.

He said the sustained support reflects confidence in the programme’s transparent design and integrity-driven implementation.

“This level of buy-in is deliberate. It comes when a programme is built honestly and executed with discipline,” he said.

The minister also announced key institutional milestones unveiled at the convening, including the launch of ICSS training materials, the ISSClear digital learning platform and the introduction of Master Trainers to deepen nationwide impact.

He said the measures aligned with the administration’s drive to institutionalise enterprise development frameworks capable of delivering measurable economic outcomes.

Mr Enoh linked the initiative to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the policy thrust prioritised equipping Nigerians with the tools and environment needed to succeed.

“ICSS is one of those tools, and this convening provides the enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive,” he said.

The minister assured entrepreneurs that the government would continue to strengthen structures that support their ambitions, stressing that MSMEs remain central to Nigeria’s economic growth strategy.

“Our message is clear. Government is not just training you; we are backing you with systems that will help your businesses grow,” he affirmed.

In her remarks, Karin Jansen, first secretary and head of cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja, reaffirmed the commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

This, she said, would be through strengthened partnerships and inclusive growth initiatives.

The envoy said the convening brought together a diverse group of stakeholders united by a common goal of strengthening entrepreneurship and expanding economic opportunities across Nigeria.

The envoy noted that Germany’s cooperation with Nigeria in sustainable economic development was anchored on strong partnerships capable of creating lasting opportunities.

“Entrepreneurs remain central to the initiative, as their ideas and ambition form the foundation of sustainable economic growth.

“Entrepreneurship plays a central role in this cooperation. Across the world, small and medium-sized enterprises are key drivers of innovation, job creation and economic resilience,” she said.

Speaking, Charles Odii, director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), identified the launch of the ICSS GROW Fund as a critical milestone.

Mr Odii noted that it provided a dedicated financing window for certified entrepreneurs based on the confidence created by the training framework.

He called on government institutions to adopt ICSS in their MSME interventions and prioritise certified graduates in financing programmes.

He, however, urged financial institutions to design products that reflect the improved risk profile of trained entrepreneurs.

The ICSS4ALL programme is an entrepreneurship development initiative that supports MSMEs through capacity building, business advisory, and ecosystem linkages to foster sustainable enterprise growth.

The programme was developed by the Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria Programme (SEDIN) under the German Agency for Development (GIZ).

It was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the SMEDAN, Kaduna Business School and GOPA consultancy.

(NAN)