By Idowu Gabriel

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN) has challenged women entrepreneurs to be the agents of economic change Nigeria needs to develop.

SMEDAN’s South West Zonal Coordinator, Mr Gbenga Ogundeji gave the challenge on Wednesday, during the disbursement of the Federal Government grant to women entrepreneurs at Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Ogundeji explained that the SMEDAN “Women in Self-Employment Programme (WISE-P)” was aimed at training and assisting women with the modern technology for business expansion.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment at empowering the women for self-reliance, urging them to contribute their own quota to the development of the nation’s economy.

“Women and good managers at home as well as in businesses. That is why it is being said that if you empower a woman, you empower a nation.

“We are confident that if we invest in women, they will be empowered and significantly enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“It is, therefore, very critical for the women to live up to these expectations by being the agent of economic change that our dear nation needs,” Ogundeji said.

Earlier, Manager of SMEDAN in the state, Mr Tomi Ikuomola said that N230,000 would be credited to seven cooperative groups each amounting to N1.6 million as grant.

Ikuomola said that the beneficiaries had been trained on the use of modern technology to assist them in expanding and sustaining their businesses.

One of the beneficiaries, a 70-year-old Mrs Ajoke Olajiga, thanked SMEDAN and the Federal Government for the support, describing it as a game changer for women entrepreneurs in the area.