The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, in collaboration with MTN Nigeria, has initiated the MSME Mass Registration Programme.
The agency said the programme would enable voluntary registration of MSMEs in MTN’s various programmes as certified SMEDAN businesses with access to various government benefits.
It said Nigeria had more than 41 million MSMEs contributing over 59 million jobs as of 2021, which it added was over 84 per cent of the total labour force in the country.
SMEDAN explained that the MSME programme seeks to register and provide developmental benefits to over 75 per cent of the informal and semi-formal MSMEs within the first five years of implementation.
It said owners of MSMEs could dial *6555# to register their business with SMEDAN and gain access to various forms of support, adding that registered MSMEs would have access to a SMEDAN certificate with an embedded unique identification number confirming their business status; access to grants, loans, and other financial services through SMEDAN or in partnership with other development agencies.
Speaking on the partnership, the Chairman of SMEDAN, Otunba Femi Pedro, said, “The dearth of usable data across many sectors of the economy necessitated the need to begin the MSME Mass Registration Project which gives Nigerians more access to registered MSMEs.
“Getting the over 41 million MSMEs registered with SMEDAN will position MSMEs for stronger and better performance as we have carefully outlined benefits to combat major setbacks faced.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dikko Radda, said the agency had identified the need to register all MSMEs in Nigeria so they could achieve their potential with proper guidance and exposure and avoid a business collapse that could drag business owners and employees deeper into poverty. ,,
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
