The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has kicked off the disbursement of ₦5 billion in grants to over 30,000 students in tertiary institutions across the North West. The initiative, flagged off in Zaria, is sup… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader SMEDAN begins ₦5 billion grant disbursement to support student entrepreneurs By Abiodun Abdullahi on April 19, 2025 The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has kicked off the disbursement of ₦5 billion in grants to over 30,000 students in tertiary institutions across the North West. The initiative, flagged off in Zaria, is supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and aims to promote youth entrepreneurship by helping students view education as a launchpad for business. SMEDAN's Director-General, Charles Odii, said the grant is part of the agency's efforts under the Workforce Support pillar of the GROW Nigerian initiative. In addition to the grant, SMEDAN is also running an Undergraduate Internship Programme, designed to give students hands-on business experience. "We're nurturing a pipeline of skilled, entrepreneurial talent to drive future economic growth," Odii said, noting that disbursements will continue in other regions as the programme scales nationwide. The initiative targets youth enterprise from the ground up, equipping students with the resources and experience to build viable businesses early in their careers.

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China has condemned the United States' recent tariff increases, warning that the move poses a serious threat not just to China, but to the entire global economy—including African countries. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Chinese A… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader China warns U.S. tariffs threaten Africa's economic growth, global trade stability By Abiodun Abdullahi on April 19, 2025 China has condemned the United States' recent tariff increases, warning that the move poses a serious threat not just to China, but to the entire global economy—including African countries. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the tariffs as "a global trade war" and a backward step that undermines multilateralism and fair international trade. According to the envoy, the U.S. approach—imposing blanket tariffs under the assumption that trade surpluses equal cheating—violates World Trade Organization (WTO) principles and has already caused significant economic fallout. African economies, he said, are suffering from currency devaluation, stock market volatility, and disruptions to their industrialization and poverty reduction efforts. "No country can remain immune in the face of bullying and coercion," Yu said. "Appeasement will only invite further aggression. Today, opposing U.S. tariff abuse means upholding multilateralism, fairness, and justice." Read also The ambassador criticized the U.S. for violating WTO rules and for destabilizing the global economic order. He stressed that China is open to negotiations but will continue to take firm measures to defend its sovereignty and development interests. Despite global uncertainties, Yu expressed confidence in China's economic resilience. He noted that China recorded 5.4% GDP growth in the first quarter and continues to contribute around 30% to global economic growth. Yu also highlighted opportunities for stronger China-Nigeria cooperation amid the global trade tensions. With bilateral trade valued at approximately $22 billion, he said both countries stand to gain from deeper economic ties. "Following the agreement to export Nigerian peanuts to China, we remain open to expanding imports of Nigerian goods. The prospects for future cooperation are broad," he said. He emphasized that Nigeria, as Africa's largest economy and a key voice of the Global South, has a crucial role to play in promoting an inclusive global trade system. "We will work with Nigeria to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit and deepen mutually beneficial collaboration. Together, we will resist protectionism and foster an open, fair international environment," he concluded.

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Get Your Knife Ready !

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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more It’s Time to Trim the Fat Get Your Knife Ready ! Olu from MSME Africa Apr 19   READ IN APP   Dear Entrepreneur, It’s time we talk about your business expenses because it’s beginning to look like jollof rice with too much assorted meat. 😅 Yes, I know you’re doing your best to grow, but sometimes that growth includes expenses you didn’t budget for and can’t explain. You’re still paying for that subscription you tried once during lockdown. Your office still has DSTV premium but you’re running a logistics company. Oga, it’s time to trim the fat! Thanks for reading MSME Africa Pulse! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Pledge your support Let’s be honest: cost-cutting doesn’t mean hardship, it means intentional spending. Start by auditing your business expenses. Print the statement, sit down with cold zobo and face the music. You might be shocked to see you're still paying for that fancy app you swore would “revolutionize customer experience” but that nobody has logged into since February 2022. Cut it! If it’s not adding value, it’s chopping money. Then there’s staffing. No, I am not saying sack everybody. This isn’t a Nollywood boardroom. 😭 But check if you’re overstaffed in some areas or underutilizing talent. Maybe instead of hiring a full-time social media exec, that your cousin that posts memes for fun could handle your IG page for a stipend. (With supervision, of course. I don’t want your business trending for the wrong reasons.) And please, negotiate everything. From rent to supplies to bulk buying puff-puff for your Friday “TGIF bonding”. Nothing is sacred. This economy is not smiling, and neither should your landlord. Form alliances with other small businesses to share services or vendors. That’s called collaborative capitalism and it works like ogbono soup when you stir it right. In conclusion, trimming the fat is not about depriving your business. It’s about making sure that every kobo you spend is worth it. Lean business = strong business. And when you run lean, you can hustle smarter, grow faster, and maybe, just maybe finally upgrade from pure water to table water at meetings. 😎 Here’s what I have for you today: Trending Business News Opportunities Galore Fun Facts about Entrepreneurship Some Resources for you Trending Business News Flutterwave Launches Virtual Accelerate Workshop to Train Young Africans in Tech Flutterwave, one of Africa’s leading payments technology firms, has launched the Flutterwave Accelerate Workshop, a two-day virtual coaching program aimed at equipping young Africans with essential skills for success in the technology industry. Read more OPay Defies Global Fintech Slowdown, Grows to $2.75 Billion Valuation Africa-focused fintech OPay has increased its valuation to $2.75 billion, according to new filings from its minority investor, Opera Limited. This modest growth, up from a $2 billion valuation in 2021, comes even as the broader fintech industry grapples with reduced venture capital and significant valuation drops. Get more details HERE Nigeria Targets 2.5 Million Jobs with New Labour Empowerment Programme Nigeria’s Vice President has launched the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a major initiative aimed at creating 2.5 million jobs across multiple sectors. LEEP targets all sectors of the economy, including the expanding digital and freelance industries, and aims to use technology to match skilled workers with employment opportunities. More details Here Moniepoint Enters Diaspora Banking with MonieWorld, Targeting UK–Nigeria Remittance Market Nigerian fintech giant Moniepoint has launched MonieWorld, a new platform aimed at the UK–Nigeria remittance corridor. This move signals Moniepoint’s entry into the diaspora banking sector and its broader ambition to serve Africans globally while reducing dependence on Nigeria’s volatile economic and regulatory landscape. Read more Senegal Urges ECOWAS to Bolster Investment Promotion and Regional Integration Senegal has urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intensify efforts to attract foreign investments across the region. The call was made by a representative of Senegal’s Directorate of Foreign Trade, Investment and Development during the ECOWAS Common Investment Market (ECIM) Technical Committee Council meeting held in Abuja. Get more details HERE Opportunity Galore Call For Applications: Climate Launchpad Green Business Ideas Competition 2025 For African Entrepreneurs ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest competition for green business ideas. Do you have a green business idea and have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?. Your idea can be an innovation in renewable energy, a sustainable transition in the food chain, a mind shift in urban mobility, or any other way to tackle climate change .Get more details and Apply today Call For Applications: Digital ChangeMakers Incubation Program 2025 for Women Entrepreneurs This project aims to equip women-led micro-enterprises with tailored digital solutions, enabling them to adopt innovative products that meet their needs and fosters growth and innovation. Get more details here. Call For Applications: D-Prize Challenge 2026 for Entrepreneurs (Up to $20,000 Grant) The D-Prize believes the world needs more social impact organizations and seed for-profit ventures, NGOs, and charities and awards startup grants of up to $20,000 to entrepreneurs launching new organizations.Get more details HERE Call For Applications: Africa Food Prize 2025 (Up to $100,000 Cash prize) The Africa Food Prize recognizes extraordinary women, men, and institutions whose outstanding contributions to African agriculture are forging a new era of sustainable food security and economic opportunity that elevates all African. Get more details here. Call For Applications: Google for Startups Accelerator Africa 2025 This is a three-month hybrid accelerator program for Seed to Series A technology startups. The accelerator program is designed to bring the best of Google’s programs, products, people and technology to communities across Africa. Get more details and apply HERE You can access many more opportunities HERE Fun Facts about Entrepreneurship Did you know that the Nok people, an ancient civilization in what is now Nigeria (around 1000 BCE to 300 CE), were the pioneers in manufacturing business in West Africa? The Nok people were not only skilled in terracotta sculpture, but they also had advanced iron-smelting technology. This made West Africa one of the earliest regions in the world to independently develop iron-smelting, right up there with India and Anatolia. Some Resources For You Monetizing Your Supply Chain Data Tips for Human Resources Management for MSMEs 5 Tips on Good Leadership Communication for Business Owners _______________________________________ For more news, opportunities, resources, and other items, kindly visit: www.msmeafricaonline.com Follow us on social media: YouTube , Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn Join other Entrepreneurs across Africa in the MSME Africa Community HERE Till next time Olu, MSME Africa Thanks for reading MSME Africa Pulse! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Pledge your support MSME Africa Pulse is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell MSME Africa Pulse that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments. Pledge your support   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 MSME Africa 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe