The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) says it will deepen its partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The NIM president, Christiana Atako, disclosed the institute’s position during a hybrid meeting on Wednesday at the SMEDAN headquarters.

Ms Atako said the partnership would enhance human capital development and engender the longevity of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Ms Atako said the meeting was to work out modalities to continue training the institute initiated with the agency in 2023. She urged the agency to continue discharging its duty as the voice of MSMEs and the intermediary between MSMEs and the federal government.

The NIM president urged both organisations to hold a stakeholders’ summit on management imperatives for the sustainability of SMEs.

According to her, the summit will address the lack of longevity of SMEs, which often fail after five years due to poor management.

“As a chief executive that values the importance of capacity building and professional management training, I am convinced that you will keep faith with the spirit and letters of the training arrangement, though it did not start under your leadership,” she said.

SMEDAN director-general Charles Obi said NIM’s training of the agency’s staff in 2023 impacted their productivity.

Mr Obi, represented by a director in the agency, Daberuje Lawani, said the agency would continue to discharge its duties effectively.

(NAN)