The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, has called on entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financial institutions to fully adopt emerging institutional and financing structures under the Inspire–Create–Start–Scale (ICSS) programme, describing it as a critical pathway for accelerating enterprise growth and strengthening Nigeria’s economic base.
Speaking at the launch of the ICSS4ALL initiative, Odii highlighted the programme as a structured entrepreneurship development model designed to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the ideation stage through business formation, expansion, and eventual market integration. The framework was developed by the German Agency for International Cooperation and implemented in partnership with SMEDAN and Kaduna Business School through GOPA Consultancy.
He stressed that entrepreneurs should take advantage of the ICSSLearn platform, affiliated institutions, and the ICSS Institute, which now collectively provide a nationwide structure for capacity building, certification, and business development support.
Odii also made a strong appeal to government bodies at federal, state, and local levels to integrate the ICSS model into existing MSME programmes, while urging banks and other financial institutions to design lending products that reflect the improved credit readiness of certified entrepreneurs emerging from the programme.
According to him, participants who have completed the programme are not only trained but formally structured for enterprise engagement. He noted that tools such as the GROW Fund and ICSSLearn platform are intended to help graduates consolidate their skills and transition into scalable businesses.
“To our ICSS alumni, what you have earned is real and recognised. Stay connected to this ecosystem, access the financing you now qualify for, and scale your businesses. Your progress is the programme’s most powerful evidence,” he said.
He further urged financial institutions to reassess traditional lending models, arguing that ICSS certification reduces risk and improves the bankability of MSMEs.
“ICSS graduates come to you structured, documented and prepared. The curriculum has changed their risk profile. We urge you to develop products and financing windows that reflect that change,” he added.
Odii disclosed that although over 14,000 entrepreneurs have so far been trained under the initiative, the programme is still at an early stage, with plans underway for national expansion through stronger institutional adoption, digital learning systems, and expanded financing access.
New data presented at the event showed that the ICSS framework has already reached more than 42,250 participants across six states, generating 17,967 jobs, with women accounting for about 60 per cent of beneficiaries—an outcome organisers described as a significant step toward inclusive economic participation.
The programme has also built a wide support network, deploying over 380 trainers, facilitators, and coaches alongside about 100 master trainers across more than 40 partner organisations. This structure is aimed at ensuring consistent delivery of entrepreneurship support at scale.
These developments come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s MSME sector, which accounts for an estimated 97 per cent of businesses, nearly 90 per cent of employment, and close to half of national GDP, yet continues to face challenges such as limited access to credit, fragmented training systems, and weak market linkages.
Country Director of the German development agency, Markus Wagner, said the ICSS framework was designed specifically to address these structural challenges by standardising entrepreneurship training from ideation to scale.
He noted that while MSMEs remain central to innovation and job creation, many entrepreneurs still lack structured support systems, which limits their ability to grow sustainably and access formal financing.
Wagner added that beyond participation figures, the programme is also building a long-term ecosystem of trainers and institutions capable of delivering entrepreneurship support nationwide, thereby improving sustainability.
He further pointed to the ICSSLearn digital platform as a major expansion tool, particularly for young entrepreneurs who increasingly rely on digital resources for business development and learning.
Stakeholders at the event observed that the absence of standardised entrepreneurship training in the past has weakened MSME access to finance, as banks often lack consistent benchmarks for evaluating creditworthiness.
They argued that linking structured training, certification, and financing through mechanisms such as the ICSS Institute and the GROW Fund could help bridge this gap and improve lending confidence in the sector.
The ICSS4ALL programme, developed in collaboration with international and local partners, is being positioned as a potential national benchmark for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria.
The two-day convening in Abuja brought together government agencies, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector actors to assess progress and discuss broader adoption of the framework.
As discussions continue around integrating ICSS into the national MSME policy, analysts say its long-term impact will depend on sustained institutional backing, policy coordination, and the responsiveness of financial institutions in translating improved enterprise capacity into expanded credit access.
For Nigeria’s economy, where MSMEs remain a central driver of jobs and livelihoods, stakeholders suggest that the effectiveness of such reforms could play a decisive role in strengthening inclusive and sustainable economic growth.