The Federal Government has launched a major support initiative for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with President Bola Tinubu approving free business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for 250,000 small businesses across Nigeria.
The initiative, being implemented by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), also provides beneficiaries with free business development training and support aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow and formalise their businesses.
The programme forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to boost entrepreneurship, create jobs and improve access to finance and markets for small businesses.
According to SMEDAN, interested entrepreneurs can now apply through its Cluster Development Support (CDS) programme.
The agency said the government-led initiative is designed to enhance the growth and competitiveness of MSME clusters by providing targeted interventions tailored to their specific needs.
It explained that the programme seeks to improve productivity, encourage innovation and expand market access for businesses operating within geographic clusters and industrial hubs, while promoting sustainable economic growth and job creation.
SMEDAN said eligible participants include MSMEs organised within recognised clusters, industry associations, government agencies and development organisations supporting cluster development.
The agency added that successful applicants would benefit from infrastructure support, technology adoption, skills development, networking opportunities, market linkages, access to finance, branding, marketing assistance and quality certification to strengthen their competitiveness.
Business owners interested in participating have been advised to register their interest through the official SMEDAN application portal.
Applications can be submitted via [SMEDAN Cluster Development Support for MSMEs: https://smedan.gov.ng
SMEDAN said the programme is expected to strengthen the country’s MSME sector by helping small businesses formalise their operations, improve productivity and expand their market reach.
