The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have agreed to deepen institutional collaboration in the areas of youth empowerment, cybersecurity, capacity development and responsible entrepreneurship.
The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja.
According to a statement by Moshood Lawal, Head of the Corporate Affairs Unit of SMEDAN, the EFCC chairman commended the agency’s youth-focused interventions, describing them as important efforts aimed at equipping young Nigerians with opportunities and skills that can positively influence their lives.
Olukoyede particularly praised SMEDAN’s growing focus on capacity building and empowerment programmes for young people, noting that such initiatives provide the knowledge and opportunities needed for productive participation in the economy.
He said the interventions could also help steer young Nigerians away from activities that negatively affect the country’s economy and international image.
During the meeting, both organisations agreed to strengthen cooperation through knowledge sharing and joint capacity-building initiatives.
Part of the proposed collaboration includes integrating relevant components of the ICSS curriculum into EFCC cybersecurity training programmes.
The two agencies also agreed to explore EFCC’s participation in selected SMEDAN training programmes aimed at improving awareness of cybersecurity, financial responsibility and ethical business practices among entrepreneurs and young people.
The partnership is expected to strengthen the link between enterprise development and financial crime prevention by helping entrepreneurs build and grow sustainable businesses while understanding the importance of legal compliance and cybersecurity in a digital economy.
Speaking during the engagement, Odii stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions in advancing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
He said effective youth empowerment requires a comprehensive approach that combines skills development, access to opportunities, mentorship, digital knowledge, financial literacy and responsible enterprise practices.
