The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are strengthening collaboration to equip Nigerian youths with skills in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, capacity development and responsible business practices.
The partnership was discussed when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja.
Olukoyede said the EFCC had followed SMEDAN’s youth-focused interventions with keen interest, describing the programmes as important efforts to equip young Nigerians with skills and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
He commended the agency’s growing emphasis on youth development through capacity-building and empowerment programmes, saying such initiatives could help young people become productive contributors to the economy.
“This would also help ensure that young people do not tow the path of negative vices that have an unsavoury impact on the country’s economy and image,” he said.
During the meeting, both institutions agreed to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing and joint capacity-building programmes, with cybersecurity identified as a key area of collaboration.
As part of the proposed partnership, relevant components of the ICSS curriculum will be incorporated into the EFCC’s cybersecurity training programmes.
The agencies will also explore the EFCC’s participation in SMEDAN training programmes aimed at improving awareness of cybersecurity, financial responsibility and ethical business practices among entrepreneurs and young Nigerians.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the link between enterprise development and financial crime prevention by helping young entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses while understanding the importance of operating within the law and protecting their enterprises in the digital economy.
Odii stressed the importance of partnerships among government institutions in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in addressing the needs of Nigeria’s growing youth population.
“Empowering young people requires a holistic approach that combines skills, access to opportunities, mentorship, digital knowledge, financial literacy and responsible enterprise practices,” he said.
He said stronger institutional partnerships would be essential to providing young Nigerians with the tools and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the economy.
