By Mike Ojo
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN has sought the support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in promoting made-in-Nigeria products and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians through skills development and entrepreneurship.
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO/Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, made the request in Abuja on Wednesday when he led a delegation of the Agency on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.
Odii commended the EFCC Chairman for what he described as efforts that have contributed to rebuilding confidence in Nigeria, particularly internationally. “Executive Chairman, I want to thank you. I want to start with gratitude. I want to thank you for the work that you have done in the last 34 months. You have tried to change the face of Nigeria outside Nigeria. So, with that, I want to thank you, and thank you for instituting confidence and trust again in Nigeria,” he said
The SMEDAN DG said the Agency was implementing initiatives designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and transform them into entrepreneurs.
He disclosed that SMEDAN had secured approval from the Ministry of Education to establish the Inspire, Create, Start, and Scale (ICSS) Institute, which offers National Diploma programmes to young people while integrating entrepreneurship into their training. The aim, he said, is to work with relevant stakeholders to make sure that solid entrepreneurs are produced into the Nigerian ecosystem. “When we go into prisons, people that have six months to be released into society, we train them, and we give them skills. This project has been life-changing. We are at the point of sending the national MSME policy to Mr. President. That policy covers the ecosystem for five years.
“We have put in that policy that anyone who has gone to prison, who is apologetic, and lacks skills, small businesses in Nigeria should employ them. And so in our policy, we’re putting in that if these people are wrong, apologetic, they’ve learned their skills, we should be able to rehabilitate them to society”, he said.
He also proposed collaboration between SMEDAN and the EFCC’s Cybersecurity Research and Training Centre, saying the Agency could provide relevant curriculum and technical expertise. “I also know that you have started the Cybersecurity Research Center. We want to introduce this curriculum to you, so that our curriculum can be embedded into the research center,” he said.
Odii further sought collaboration on the rehabilitation of inmates and young people involved in cybercrime, through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes designed to support their reintegration into society.
Responding, Olukoyede welcomed the proposal and expressed the EFCC’s readiness to collaborate with SMEDAN on promotion of Nigeria-made goods, youth empowerment, skills development and cybercrime prevention. “I have been following your activities. And I’m very proud of you. You are one of the young men that we look up to,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman said the development of legitimate skills and economic opportunities for young people were important to tackling cybercrime. “I’m interested in anything that will help to develop skills for young men. Because that is one of the challenges I have,” he said.
Olukoyede commended the initiative and urged Nigerians, including members of the EFCC community, to patronise locally produced goods. “Congrats for pushing all these. So, those of you buying things in my office, henceforth, patronize this. We need to support them, you know. Support these young people. It is when these businesses grow that’s when we can grow our own nation, too. And develop our own, you know, system. As long as we can patronize what we do,” he said.
He also suggested that the government should make a national policy on Nigeria-made goods to encourage local production and grow the economy.
Olukoyede stressed the seriousness of cybercrime and consequential effects on Nigeria’s economy and international reputation. The evil these guys are doing to the image of Nigeria, to our economy is unquantifiable. Some of these guys, at the press of a button, they can bring the entire financial ecosystem down,” he stated.
The EFCC Chairman disclosed that the Commission’s Cybersecurity Research and Training Centre was expected to train an average of 500 intakes at a time, adding that the government was supporting the project. “That was what necessitated our, you know, putting in place the Cyber Security Research and Training Center, which we’re expecting to train an average of 500, you know, intakes per time,” he said.
He invited SMEDAN to participate in the project from its conception to operationalisation. “So, I want to bring you on board so that you can be part of that project from the conception to operationalization because the nature of your mandate requires that we bring you into it,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman also pledged support for SMEDAN’s ICSS initiative and other programmes aimed at developing young Nigerians. “So, I’m with you. We’re going to support you. Your ICSS project, too. Let me know if there’s any area where we can support you,” he said.
A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of locally produced goods by the SMEDAN delegation. The items included hibiscus tea, coffee, wax candles, cassava biscuits and native fabric produced under the Agency’s Guidance, Resources, Opportunity, and Workforce (G-R-O-W) support initiative.
Olukoyede said the EFCC would work with relevant institutions to identify practical solutions to youth involvement in crime. “So, let us look for practical solutions that will take these young people out of that menace. Let’s compare notes. Let’s put this together to help Mr. President to succeed in his venture,” he said.
