SMEDAN promotes the ICSS entrepreneurship programme to support MSMEs in Nigeria, improve access to finance, and strengthen business growth through structured training

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has urged entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financial institutions to fully embrace the Inspire–Create–Start–Scale (ICSS) programme as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem.

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Speaking at the launch of the ICSS4ALL initiative, SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii described the ICSS MSME programme Nigeria framework as a structured model designed to guide businesses from idea development through to scaling and market expansion.

The programme, developed in collaboration with international and local partners, is aimed at improving entrepreneurship training, access to finance, and enterprise sustainability across the country.

Odii called on government institutions at all levels to integrate the ICSS model into existing MSME policies, while encouraging banks and financial institutions to develop lending products aligned with the improved credit readiness of certified entrepreneurs.

He noted that ICSS graduates are trained, structured, and better positioned for business financing, adding that tools like the ICSSLearn platform and GROW Fund are designed to support their growth and expansion.

According to organisers, the programme has already reached tens of thousands of participants, created thousands of jobs, and recorded significant female participation, highlighting its inclusive impact.

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The initiative is being positioned as a national benchmark for entrepreneurship development, with stakeholders emphasising the need for stronger policy backing and financial sector collaboration to maximise its impact on Nigeria’s MSME sector.