SMEDAN Trains IFAD Incubatees on Grant, Loan Access
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) incubatees have been trained on accessing grants and loans to boost their enterprises in Ondo State.
The training, facilitated by the SMEDAN Ondo State chapter, was held at the organization’s hall in Akure, the Ondo State capital, recently.
In an interview, the State Director for the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Prince Tomi Ikuomola, said the training was aimed at existing entrepreneurs, educating them on available intervention funds from relevant stakeholders, which they could apply for before their expiration.
He added that the training also engaged participants on how they could benefit from these funds by leveraging their unique, innovative business ideas, which would give them an advantage over other entrepreneurs in accessing these resources.
“Whenever we see opportunities where we have available and affordable funds, mostly in the form of grants or empowerment programs, we try to ensure as many of our entrepreneurs as possible are aware of them,” Ikuomola explained.
Ikuomola described grants as complementary support services or opportunities, noting that they are not solely from the federal government, but also from stakeholders and international grant organizations, which are being unveiled to the public.
He observed the competitiveness of federal government grants and opportunities, noting that having additional options could reduce such challenges, lessen competition, and give entrepreneurs a better chance to expand their businesses.
According to him, some cooperative societies have already benefited and continue to benefit from these grants.
He assured that many serious-minded individuals would be able to access the grant in each local government area, based on what the state government is working on.
