The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are strengthening collaboration to equip Nigerian youths with skills in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, capacity development and responsible business practices.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja.
The EFCC Chairman said the Commission had followed with keen interest SMEDAN’s youth-focused interventions, describing the programmes as significant efforts towards equipping young Nigerians with skills and opportunities to transform their lives.
Olukoyede particularly acknowledged SMEDAN’s growing focus on youth development through capacity-building and empowerment schemes, saying such interventions could help young Nigerians become productive participants in the economy.
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He said “This would also help ensure that young people do not tow the path of negative vices that have an unsavory impact on the country’s economy and image.”
During the meeting, both institutions agreed to strengthen collaboration through knowledge sharing and joint capacity-building initiatives, with cybersecurity identified as a key area of cooperation.
A major component of the proposed partnership is the infusion of relevant components of the ICSS curriculum into the EFCC’s cybersecurity training programmes.
The two institutions also agreed to explore EFCC’s participation in relevant SMEDAN training programmes, particularly initiatives aimed at strengthening awareness of cybersecurity, financial responsibility and ethical business practices among entrepreneurs and young Nigerians.
The collaboration is expected to establish a stronger link between enterprise development and financial crime prevention, ensuring that young entrepreneurs are equipped not only to establish and grow businesses but also to understand the importance of operating within the law and protecting their businesses in the digital economy.
Speaking during the engagement, Odii emphasised the importance of partnerships among government institutions in delivering the mandate of the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly for Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population.
He said, “empowering young people requires a holistic approach that combines skills, access to opportunities, mentorship, digital knowledge, financial literacy and responsible enterprise practices”.
The SMEDAN Chief executive said stronger institutional partnerships would be critical to providing young Nigerians with the tools and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the economy.
The proposed collaboration between SMEDAN and EFCC is therefore expected to combine enterprise development with financial crime prevention, cybersecurity awareness and responsible business practices as both institutions work to strengthen opportunities for young Nigerians.
