UNILAG, SMEDAN Join Forces to Strengthen Nigerian MSMEs and Train First Batch of Business Development Professionals

The University of Lagos (UNILAG), in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), on Thursday, September 18, 2025, hosted a high-level stakeholders’ meeting designed to reposition Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria for growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

Held at the Conference Room of the Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC), UNILAG, the meeting carried the theme: “Catalyzing MSME Growth and Innovation through Strategic Partnerships Aligned with Future-Ready Agenda”. The event drew policymakers, industry leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions to discuss pathways for strengthening the MSME ecosystem.

VC Ogunsola Pushes for Industry-Linked Research
In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, emphasized UNILAG’s role as an incubator for innovation and a bridge between academia and industry. She explained that the University had reoriented students’ research projects from “inside-out” to “outside-in,” aligning them with industry-defined problems rather than academic assumptions.

“We recognize the demographic potentials of our country. With over 150 million young people under 30, Nigeria sits on the brink of either crisis or opportunity. At UNILAG, we see resilience and enterprise in our students, and we invest heavily in creating an environment where their greatness can manifest. We train them to be both industry-relevant and self-reliant,” the Vice-Chancellor noted.

SMEDAN Reiterates Support for SMEs
Dr. Olubunmi Kole-Dawodu, Lagos State Manager of SMEDAN, represented the Director-General, Mr. Charles Odii. He assured participants of the agency’s dedication to simplifying regulations, promoting formalization, and building frameworks for small businesses to thrive.

Kole-Dawodu described the partnership with UNILAG as a bold step in embedding innovation and knowledge into MSME development, stressing that collaboration was the lifeline for growth in the sector.

Partnerships as Survival Tools
Deputy President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Engr. Leye Kupoluyi, delivered the keynote lecture titled “Future-Ready MSMEs – The Role of Strategic Partnerships”. He declared that partnerships are not optional but essential for MSMEs to thrive in today’s competitive, technology-driven world.

“To be future-ready, MSMEs must embrace digital adoption, sustainability, and resilience. They cannot achieve this alone. Their survival depends on networks of collaboration that connect them to finance, mentorship, technology, and markets,” he said.

Kupoluyi pointed to Nigerian companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Psaltery International as examples of firms whose growth was fueled by strategic alliances.

Panel Session on MSME Challenges
A panel session, moderated by Dr. Adeleke Adesina of the Department of Science Education (Chemistry Education Unit), dissected pressing challenges facing MSMEs, including access to finance, technology adoption, and market integration. Panelists included Dr. Olubunmi Kole-Dawodu (SMEDAN Lagos Manager), Mr. Victor Awoniyi (Southwest Director, Industrial Training Fund), Mr. Oluwaseun Adekanbi (MD, UNILAG Microfinance Bank), and Professor Ashiyat Akodu (Founder/CEO of CerviTech and staff of UNILAG’s Department of Physiotherapy).

UNILAG Presents Pioneer BDSPs
A highlight of the event was the formal presentation of 10 Business Development Service Professionals (BDSPs), trained by SMEDAN and sponsored by UNILAG, to the Vice-Chancellor. They include:

• Dr. Lateef Odekunle – Director, HRDC UNILAG and Chairman, UNILAG-BDSP
• Professor Johnson Agunsoye – Director, CILPU UNILAG
• Professor Atinuke Lano-Maduagu
• Professor Sunday Olabiyi
• Dr. Oladimeji Odetunde
• Dr. Rahim A. Ganiyu
• Dr. Oluwole Victor Falobi
• Dr. Mayowa Iredele
• Dr. Yetunde Abiodun
• Mr. Adeshola Kukoyi – Secretary, UNILAG-BDSP

The BDSPs will provide business development services to SMEs, serving as a platform for sustained dialogue, linkages, and partnerships.

UNILAG-BDSP: Building the Future of Nigerian Enterprise
Congratulating the new BDSPs, Professor Ogunsola urged them to champion enterprise development, deepen collaborations, and connect UNILAG with industry and government stakeholders.

Chairman of UNILAG-BDSP and convener of the event, Dr. Lateef Odekunle, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for her support and reiterated the group’s commitment to positioning UNILAG as Nigeria’s Silicon Valley. Secretary of the group, Mr. Adeshola Kukoyi, delivered the vote of thanks.

As participants dispersed, the central message of the day remained clear: with training, partnerships, and innovation, MSMEs hold the power to transform Nigeria’s economy — and UNILAG, in collaboration with SMEDAN, is determined to lead the charge.