The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola OON, FAS has secured the support of the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in efforts to accredit the University as a Business Development Service Provider Center.
The significant stride occurred on Monday, November 27, 2023 when Professor Ogunsola met with the Agency’s Director General, Mr. Charles Odii, and top officials including the Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr. Monday Ewans; and the Director General’s Special Assistant, Mr. Shina Peters, at SMEDAN headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, the UNILAG helmswoman highlighted the University’s vision for fostering entrepreneurship as well as supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. She also emphasized the University’s commitment to nurturing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among its students and the wider community.
While pointing out possible areas of collaboration and mutually beneficial ventures between the two bodies, Professor Ogunsola underscored the importance of equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive business landscape.
According to her, “accreditation as a Business Development Service Provider Center aligns with the University of Lagos’ broader strategic objectives to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and industry partnerships. It also underscores the institution’s commitment to serving as a catalyst for economic transformation and societal impact”.
In his response, the SMEDAN boss assured of his support and that of SMEDAN to financing student enterprises and ideas pitching as well as creating an enabling environment for their business sustainability. He promised to visit the University along with his management team for an ‘on the spot assessment’ to ascertain core areas of immediate support and intervention.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) was established by the SMEDAN Act of 2003 to promote the development of the MSME sector of the Nigeria Economy.
