SMEDAN laments poor budgetary provision for SMEs

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says constant poor budget provision has denied it of effective discharge of duties to nano, small and medium entrepreneurs in the country.

Speaking at an ongoing annual three-day Press Week celebration organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara State Council held at Pinnacle Resorts Centre, Offa on Wednesday, a
Senior Administrative Officer in SMEDAN, Adava Oyiza Ometere, cited paucity of funds as a major challenge in mitigating its discharge of duties.

The SMEDAN official, who said that the agency could not reach out to its targets at the grassroots under the present situation of paucity of funds, added that the threatening situation may remain unabated until the rebirth of microfinance institutions.

She also said that the challenge had forced many entrepreneurs to lose confidence in the agency.

According to the entrepreneurship expert, “there are lots of programme we run but it’s just that we can’t reach out to the grassroots.”

Adava also added that the populace/patrons are often confronted by lack of accessibility to information about federal government’s policy especially in areas of their interests.

Still on the challenges facing SMEDAN, Adava urged the federal government to strengthen capacity building to be able to monitor the growth of SMEs.

On the present economic hardship in the country, she encouraged all business operators to tally along and restrain from closing down their businesses, advising that, “don’t be discouraged, it shall soon be over”.

Highlights of the event was lecture which centered on enlightenment on areas of vacation for active or serving journalists as well as retired professionals.

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