The Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, has assured the Asaba community of the agency’s commitment to fostering youth employment and supporting small business development in Delta State.
Mr Odii made the assurance while receiving His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, along with palace chiefs during a courtesy visit to SMEDAN headquarters. The visit included a guided tour of facilities at the agency’s Small and Medium Enterprises complex.
Speaking during the engagement, the SMEDAN Director General described the visit as a key step toward expanding the agency’s impact in Delta State.
“Your Royal Majesty, SMEDAN has not done much in Delta State, and I want to assure you that we are ready to collaborate with the Asaba community and the Delta State Government to create sustainable jobs for unemployed youths,” Odii stated.
He highlighted SMEDAN’s role in partnering with small business owners through access to loans, grants, mentorship programs, and capacity-building initiatives designed to enhance business development and generate employment opportunities. Mr Odii also stressed the importance of formalising businesses, noting that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is essential for small enterprises to benefit from SMEDAN-backed funding and interventions.
During the tour, the Asagba of Asaba expressed optimism that SMEDAN’s programmes could be replicated within his kingdom to stimulate economic growth and employment. He praised Mr Odii for his visionary leadership and the progress achieved by SMEDAN under his tenure.
The monarch underscored the critical need to create jobs for Asaba’s predominantly youthful population, estimated at nearly 70 per cent of the community.
“At the beginning of the year, I told my people that I am looking forward to opportunities where about 1,000 jobs can be created this year. We are determined to fully engage our youths so they do not fall into drugs, crime, and criminality,” the Asagba said.
He also assured the SMEDAN Director General of the community’s support for the initiatives, including offering land and other resources to fast-track proposed programmes.
The visit concluded with a symbolic exchange of gifts between His Royal Majesty and Mr Odii, reinforcing their mutual commitment to a productive partnership aimed at youth empowerment and sustainable economic development in Asaba.
