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SMEDAN reveals FG’s huge plan to boost women- operated businesses
The director-general of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Olawale Fasanya, has reiterated the federal government’s desire to boost women-owned businesses in the country.
He disclosed this at the opening of “Meet With the CEO” in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The director-general said that in order to ensure this, SMEDAN now has a gender desk and has reserved 50 percent of its intervention programs for women. Fasanya said that the objective of the event was to broaden and deepen the capacity of the MSME operators on regulatory issues. He said it would enable the agency to initiate need-based programs that would enhance MSMEs’ competitiveness in the global market.
He quoted the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) saying 40 percent of businesses in the country are female-led, and they contribute significantly to economic growth and job creation in the country. “These businesses led by visionary women entrepreneurs are emerging as pivotal drivers of Nigeria’s economic resurgence. And they are contributing significantly to the nation’s development across diverse sectors,” he added.
According to Fasanya, female-led businesses have continued to show resilience and a high level of optimism in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic downturn. He said, “Considering the impacts, female-led businesses continue to make progress in spite of the challenges they face.
The government and ecosystem players take a more intentional approach to supporting the demographic segment for greater impact, particularly since investing in female-led businesses produces ripple benefits that trigger employment generation, poverty reduction, and wealth creation.”
The director-general therefore urged the participants to interact with each other and with government officials, ask questions, and network on ways to forge ahead. He commended the ILO, their co-host, for the unwavering support towards the promotion of equal human rights, social justice, and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the Founder of the Celina Unogwu Visioning Academy (CUVA), Celina Unogwu, reiterated the importance of having a balanced work-life as a woman entrepreneur. According to Unogwu, work-life balance refers to the intersection of work and personal life when there is equilibrium or balance between personal life and professional life. While stating the importance for entrepreneurs to be focused on their goal, she urged the participants to work hard and believe in their dream
The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.
The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,
The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.
It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.
The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”
The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.
It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that oversaw the party’s affairs illegal and invalidating all decisions taken by the committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the David Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the caretaker committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
The verdict is expected to trigger fresh political uncertainty within the ADC, particularly over Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the party has vowed to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
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