Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has commended the G.R.O.W. Nigeria strategy, an initiative of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) that seeks to provide Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support for Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Dr Oduwole made the commendation during a working visit to the SMEDAN headquarters in Abuja, where she conducted an extensive inspection of the Agency’s Common Facility Centres dedicated to garment production, furniture making, recycling, and food packaging.
The Minister acknowledged that the G.R.O.W. Nigeria strategy directly aligns with and advances the Nigeria-First Policy championed by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She noted that SMEDAN’s focused interventions — including the establishment of industry-grade common facilities — are clear indicators of Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen local production, boost job creation, and enhance the competitiveness of indigenous enterprises.
“It is heartening to witness first-hand how these well-equipped centres are empowering small businesses to thrive,” Dr Oduwole stated.
The G.R.O.W. Nigeria framework is a transformative model that encapsulates the vision of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods and supporting value addition across the MSME sector.
Responding, the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through strategic partnerships, enterprise support services, and sustainable industrial clusters across the country.