Economy
Charles Odii Hosts Delta LG Chairmen on Rural Industrialisation, MSME Growth
By Michael Odiah
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii, has hosted Local Government Chairmen from Delta State at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja for a high-level strategic engagement on rural industrialisation, enterprise development, and job creation.
The Delta delegation, led by the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Isaiah Onoriode Esiovwa, met with the SMEDAN chief to explore deeper structural collaborations designed to unlock economic opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Delta’s 25 local government areas.
Central to the discussions was the imperative of leveraging grassroots local government machinery to drive rural industrialisation, stimulate local economies, and streamline access for rural entrepreneurs to federal enterprise development interventions.
Reaffirming SMEDAN’s commitment to sub-national development, Mr. Odii stressed that local government councils serve as the primary operational link for translating national economic policies into tangible benefits at the community level. He noted that the partnership directly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to democratize economic advancement and foster self-reliance across Nigeria.
“Local governments are our most critical partners in reaching the grassroots. Our goal is to build sustainable frameworks that empower MSMEs, generate lasting employment, and ensure that every enterprising Nigerian—regardless of background—has a fair shot at growth,” Odii stated.
Following the round-table discussions, the SMEDAN CEO led the Delta council chairmen on an extensive tour of the agency’s operational and innovation hubs in Abuja, demonstrating modern support infrastructure and enterprise development tools made available for small business owners.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from the Delta ALGON leadership, expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s deliberate policy focus on supporting small businesses, mitigating inflationary challenges, and sustaining economic growth across all tiers of governance.
