Charles Odii, the recently appointed Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has vowed to remove obstacles impeding the expansion of SMEs in Nigeria.

According to NAN, Odii made the commitment on Monday in Abuja when he started working at the agency’s headquarters.

He promised to collaborate with both public and private organizations to carry out the agency’s mission.

No matter where an entrepreneur lives in the nation, we will democratize access to finance for those with good ideas and the necessary drive by investigating local and worldwide financing sources.

“SMEs will obtain the education and training required to fulfill local demand, expand sustainably, and advance internationally by exporting value.

“We will create manufacturing centers where companies can easily access the facilities they want at a reasonable price, and we will market their goods to the rest of the country and the globe.

This may be accomplished, he added, through exhibits and fairs organized in collaboration with pertinent parties.

Odii is one of the 14 new CEOs named by President Bola Tinubu on Friday to lead organizations under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

To make a difference, the SMEDAN head enlisted the help of the agency’s workers.

“As a team, we will do this together by working toward a single goal. I’m excited to work with everyone of you to change things.

Together, we can create a future in which our SMEs not only survive but also thrive and, as a result, make a major contribution to the development of our country, he added.

Dr. Olawale Fasanya, the recently retired Director-General of SMEDAN, had earlier stated that Odii was not new to the industry, which he referred to as the backbone of the economy.

“The majority of MSMEs, particularly micro and nano firms, contribute to the economy.

There are many obstacles, but I think that if we work together, we can change the ecosystem since this industry provides more than 80% of the jobs in the country, said Fasanya.

He continued by stating that this industry had a sizable population, with the most recent poll estimating that there were at least 39.6 million people employed in it.

“One man in business is always there as you pass from one house to the next. In order to give the appropriate attention, it is crucial to separate nano from micro.

They often aren’t impacted by economic shocks, therefore we really need to help them.

“We are traveling together. I’ll keep giving guidance, and I think people will start to notice the industry’s changes very soon,” Fasanya added.

Odii is a consultant for international business development who has expertise in fostering entrepreneurship.