The Federal Government has commenced the construction of a $12m Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship designed to support small businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs with training, technology, workspaces and business support.
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The centre is being developed at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, with support from the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency and in partnership with SMEDAN and the United Nations Development Programme.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement, welcomed the commencement of construction, describing the centre as an investment aimed at strengthening Nigerian enterprise, deepening the digital economy and creating more opportunities for Nigerians.
According to the President, many Nigerians have ideas, skills and the ambition to build businesses, but access to appropriate tools, workspace, technology, training, finance and business support can determine whether those businesses survive, expand and create jobs.
He said the new centre would help close some of those gaps by providing practical support to entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.
The project has a $12m investment. About $5.9m will be used for construction, while $6.1m has been allocated for equipment and entrepreneurship programmes.
The centre is expected to support 1,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, 400 start-ups and 500 aspiring entrepreneurs under its initial programme.
The centre would strengthen small businesses, support start-ups and expand job creation, and the facility is expected to provide workspaces, digital infrastructure, training, incubation and business support for entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
The project also reflects collaboration between Nigeria and international development partners. Tinubu thanked the Government of the Republic of Korea, KOICA, UNDP and SMEDAN for advancing the project.
The President said the Federal Government would continue working with partners willing to invest in Nigerian enterprise and build lasting capacity in the country. He also expressed his desire to see more Nigerians turn good ideas into strong businesses, employ others and compete successfully within Nigeria and beyond.
For entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing businesses, the project is expected to create an environment where training, technology, workspace and business support can be accessed in one place. The programme will initially support hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups and thousands of MSMEs across Nigeria under its first phase.
How to Benefit
Applications or registration for the centre’s programmes are not currently open. Entrepreneurs, start-ups and MSMEs should therefore rely on official announcements from the Federal Government, SMEDAN and other implementing partners for information on eligibility, registration and access to the centre’s programmes. The initial programme is expected to target 500 aspiring entrepreneurs, 400 start-ups and 1,500 MSMEs.
