SMEDAN says it has trained 14,000 entrepreneurs through the Inspire, Create, Start and Scale programme. The initiative is aimed at helping Nigerian business owners build stronger foundations and improve access to growth opportunities.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has announced that 14,000 entrepreneurs have been trained under the Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS) framework.
The agency made the disclosure during the ICSS4ALL 2026 National MSME Summit held in Abuja.
SMEDAN Director-General Dr. Charles Odii said the programme was created in partnership with GIZ and other ecosystem stakeholders to provide a structured pathway for entrepreneurship development across Nigeria.
According to him, the framework helps business owners build the skills, structure, and documentation often required to access financing and grow sustainable enterprises.
Odii said many of those trained were young Nigerians who initially lacked business structure, proper records, and financial literacy. He added that participants left the programme better prepared to present credible businesses to lenders and investors.
He also revealed that SMEDAN is updating the National MSME Policy to include the ICSS curriculum as a standard model for entrepreneurship education nationwide.
The move could help establish a more unified approach to startup training and small business development across the country.
Country Director of GIZ Nigeria, Dr. Markus Wagner, said job creation and sustainable economic development remain major priorities in Nigeria.
He described small and medium-sized enterprises as the backbone of the economy, noting that they play a key role in innovation, employment generation, and economic resilience.
Wagner added that many entrepreneurs still struggle with access to practical support systems and affordable finance, which is where the ICSS framework is expected to make an impact.
The programme is part of wider efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME sector, which remains one of the largest contributors to employment and economic activity.
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