He made this known on Monday while assuming the position following his appointment last week.
PUNCH Online reported last Friday that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Odii as one of the new Chief Executive Officers of some agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
In a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, the appointment was in line with Tinubu’s resolve to base Nigeria’s economic revival on the foundation of trade expansion through small, medium, and large-scale industry facilitation in the country
While noting the spirited commitment of the past leadership to the agency’s core objective of facilitating the growth and expansion of SMEs, Odii underscored the need to revamp processes and interventions for greater achievements.
He said, “Our mandate is to be the nation’s main driver of economic growth, the source of innovation and the engine of job creation. We have the duty to ensure that SMEs receive the support and resources they need to thrive,” a statement by the SMEDAN DG on Communications and Strategy, Peter Adeshina partly read.
“Under my leadership, and together with all of you and other relevant agencies of government, our processes and interventions will be revamped for excellence.”
“We will leverage useful tools and technology to achieve our core objective, beginning with the rapid formalisation of small and medium-sized businesses to improve the quality of our data and the services we provide.”
“Nigerians should be able to conceive of an idea and register a business seamlessly. They must be given a fighting chance with readily available access to funding and a business environment conducive to growth.”
Odii further expressed readiness to work with private and public institutions at all levels to achieve this.
In his remark, the agency’s former DG, Dr Olawale Fasanya expressed confidence in Odii’s capabilities given his years of experience in the sector.
“I’ve met Mr Charles Odii previously before I knew he’d be succeeding me. He has always been passionate about the ecosystem and proposed workable ideas in the past for execution by the agency. I warmly welcome him and offer the assurance of my continuous support,” Fasanya expressed.
Other members of staff cheered the new DG’s message of a shared vision and equally pledged to offer their best to achieve his goals for the agency.
