The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum has inaugurated the National Steering Committee of National Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) certification and accreditation framework to ensure professional support to Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs).
Inaugurating the Committee in Abuja, the Minister said the certification and accreditation framework would set standards for business development service interventions.
“At the end of the certification programme, successful BDSPs will be in a position amongst other skills to demonstrate technical knowledge relevant to the effective delivery of the business development service provision to MSMEs,” the Minister said.
She said the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and MAFITA, a UK aid-funded intervention in Nigeria, developed the framework.
Katagum said the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan Atlantic University, Lagos and the Entrepreneurship Support Centre (ESC), Kaduna Business School are currently implementing the training programmes across the country.
The Director-General, SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Radda, said the BDSPs had been striving for their services to add value for money hence their services were needed to boost the sector.
Radda appreciated the ministry for its continuous support toward the development of MSMEs entirely.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, former Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Waheed Olagunju, pledged commitment to achieve its aim.
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