The Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii, has assured the Asaba community of SMEDAN’s readiness to collaborate on job creation and youth empowerment initiatives.
Mr. Odii gave the assurance while receiving His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, and members of his palace chiefs during a courtesy visit to SMEDAN, which featured a guided tour of facilities at the Small and Medium Enterprises complex.
Speaking during the visit, the SMEDAN Director General expressed delight at hosting the revered monarch and described the engagement as a significant step towards extending SMEDAN’s impact to 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 explained that SMEDAN is positioned to partner with small business owners in Asaba through access to loans, grants, and mentorship, all aimed at boosting business development and expanding employment opportunities.
He emphasized the importance of business formalization, noting that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is a critical requirement for small businesses to access SMEDAN-supported funding and interventions.
Earlier, during the tour of SMEDAN facilities, the Asagba of Asaba expressed optimism that several of the initiatives could be replicated in his kingdom to drive economic growth and employment. He commended Mr. Odii for what he described as his visionary leadership and achievements since assuming office.
The monarch reiterated his commitment to job creation, noting that Asaba has a predominantly youthful population, with nearly 70 percent being young people in need of productive engagement.
“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 further assured the SMEDAN Director General of the community’s willingness to support the initiative, including consideration of land provision to fast-track proposed programmes.
The visit was rounded off with an exchange of gifts between His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, and
Mr. Charles Odii, symbolizing mutual commitment to a productive partnership focused on youth empowerment and sustainable economic development in Asaba.
