SMEDAN, EFCC MOVE TO EQUIP YOUNG NIGERIANS WITH BUSINESS AND CYBERSECURITY SKILLS

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have agreed to strengthen their partnership in youth empowerment, cybersecurity, capacity development and responsible entrepreneurship. The decision was reached during a meeting between officials of both agencies in Abuja as part of efforts to provide young Nigerians with skills and knowledge needed to participate productively in the economy.

The agreement followed a courtesy visit by SMEDAN’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Odii, to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. During the meeting, Olukoyede acknowledged SMEDAN’s youth-focused programmes and highlighted the importance of equipping young people with opportunities that could help them develop productive careers and businesses.

Both institutions agreed to increase knowledge sharing and organise joint capacity-building programmes. A key part of the proposed collaboration will involve incorporating relevant elements of SMEDAN’s ICSS curriculum into EFCC cybersecurity training programmes, while the anti-graft agency is also expected to participate in selected SMEDAN programmes.

The agencies said the collaboration would help improve young entrepreneurs’ understanding of cybersecurity, financial responsibility and ethical business practices. The initiative is also expected to link enterprise development with financial crime prevention by helping young business owners understand the importance of operating within the law and protecting their businesses in an increasingly digital environment.

Odii stressed the importance of cooperation among government institutions in addressing the needs of Nigeria’s growing youth population. He said youth empowerment should go beyond skills training to include access to opportunities, mentorship, digital knowledge, financial literacy and responsible enterprise practices.