Nigeria can generate trillions of Naira annually from herbs – SMEDAN DG

Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Adebola Idowu at the weekend noted that Nigeria could generate trillions of naira annually by harnessing the immense economic potential of Nigeria’s herbal industry.

The SMEDAN boss who made the remark at the Akinkanju empowerment training, held in Egbedi, Osun, however, charged the federal government to act on this, for the country’s economic growth.

He therefore argued that, if the concerned authorities dedicatedly invest in and generate the herbal sector, the dividends would be rewarding and profitable for the betterment of Nigeria.

According to him, “Nigeria is blessed with abundant medicinal plants and herbs, many of which remain untapped. ”

“We can generate major incomes from many African countries by selling our herbs to them, so if we can harness that opportunity that is open with herbal medicine, the potential is enormous and we can generate a lot of income from it.”

Idowu, however, posited that SMEDAN, through its National Business Skills Development Initiative, will provide equipment to beneficiaries of the programme.

“like I discussed with the initiator, now there is limit to our capacity in helping them, we are going to provide them with a free business support service at the same time support some of them with equipment because there is this our program National Business Skills Development Initiative through which we are going to give machine and other tools the beneficiaries of today’s events., He submitted.”

Meanwhile, the founder of a Non- profitable Organization, Akinkanju, Bose Unwachi, empowered, no fewer than 30 women with training in essential and profitable skill sets to provide opportunities tailored towards interests and needs of each participant.

While launching the transformative initiative aimed at empowering women with valuable skills to foster their financial independence, the founder stated; “It is an initiative dedicated to empowering single mothers, widows, and vulnerable women through education, entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills, and personal development, fostering economic stability”.

According to her, “We are starting with 30 women, and these women will learn three essential skills, we are training them on basic production, a certified design, and household essentials like soap making, air freshener, toilet wash, and we are also going to teach them on packaging and branding.

“Our governments most times focus more on urban, they don’t come to rural areas but, Akinkanju wants to focus on rural dwellers. We are focusing on grassroots women, because, they are the ones that deal with entrepreneur.”

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