Hosted at the prestigious Oluremi Tinubu Hall, the summit, themed “Beyond the Degree: Master • Create • Innovate”, served as a rallying point for technology leaders, government officials, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs, all united by a common goal — to equip students with tools to thrive in today’s competitive world.

PROGRAM IMPACT: EMPOWERING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE

This groundbreaking initiative was designed to orientate and empower students on how to navigate life through technology, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. The summit emphasized the urgent need for Nigerian students to build sustainable skills that will make them employable, globally competitive, and self-reliant graduates.

Through keynote addresses, scholarship opportunities, and mentorship sessions, students gained firsthand exposure to industries driving economic transformation across Nigeria and beyond.

STUDENT WINS & SCHOLARSHIPS

₦1,000,000 Full Tech Scholarship Awards to three LASUED students from UR9 Group

Aviation Technology Scholarships from AEROPORT Company

Cash Giveaways and Full Product Management Scholarships to top-performing student innovators

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND THOUGHT LEADERS

STS 3.0 featured some of the nation’s most respected voices in tech, business, and policy, including: Dr. Oludayo Taiwo, MD, AEROPORT Company; Olabanji Ewenla, CEO, ENOVERLAB; Pascal Orizakwe, Career Strategist; Muhammad Lawal, CEO, EfficoAI; Melody Fidel, Entrepreneur & Tech Missionary; Mr. Peter Aideloje, CEO, SoftTechBro; Mr. Bakare Ifeoluwa, CEO, Daddy6ix Academy; Dr. Joseph Carew, CEO, Hommaston Ltd. and Dr. Uriel Ezeh, CEO, UR9 Group.

Representing the government were: The Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, ably represented by the SSA to the Governor; The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, represented by Dr. Bilal; Dr. Sunmonu Mathew, NASS Staff Adviser, LASUED

BRAND PARTNERS WHO POWERED THE SUMMIT

A host of national brands and institutions played a pivotal role in powering this movement, including: UR9 Group; ENOVERLAB; Office of the SSA to the President on Capacity Development; Techeconomy (Official Media Partner); Minimie Noodles, Munch It, Kellogg’s; AEROPORT Company; BWBS Education Consultant Agency; EfficoAI; SoftTechBro; Stability & Sustenance; BIZOACH and Embold Lab

A PRESIDENT’S VISION

In his address, Comr. Adegbite Daniel Damilare, President of NASS-LASUED, stated: “This summit is more than a one-time event — it is a wake-up call for every Nigerian student to begin building relevant, future-proof skills. We are raising innovators and leaders, not just graduates with certificates.”

The funds, according to the agency, have helped create more than 100,000 jobs across different sectors, part of its strategy to revive the country’s economy through grassroots enterprise.

In an exclusive conversation with NAN, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, laid bare the scale of the agency’s operations. SMEDAN has gone beyond access to money, combining finance, equipment, and regulatory support to expand the capacity of Nigeria’s SME sector.

“We have mobilised over ₦11 billion to make financing more affordable for small businesses and helped create more than 100,000 new jobs across the country,” Odii said.

This achievement, he noted, is tied to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. But while the political umbrella gives the initiative a national face, the on-ground execution has been anything but cosmetic. 

SMEDAN has been working with the National Assembly and foreign partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Google, and GIZ to offer practical support, particularly in the areas of digitisation and technical capacity building.

In parallel, SMEDAN has reactivated previously dormant Industrial Development Centres (IDCs), including facilities in Abuja, Osun, and Katsina. 

These hubs are now functional again, providing small businesses with reliable power, access to modern machinery, and hands-on operational support. It’s a big change from the past when small businesses were expected to grow without infrastructure.

Odii explained, “As part of efforts to revitalise local production, SMEDAN has also restored operations at several Industrial Development Centres, including those in Abuja, Osun, and Katsina States, where small businesses now benefit from access to modern machinery, steady power supply, and enterprise support.”

He stressed that SMEDAN’s collaboration with regulatory agencies, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is helping businesses formalise without the traditional bottlenecks.

“Formalisation remains a key focus. SMEDAN has partnered with key regulatory agencies to ease the business environment,” he said.

That includes support for business registration, tax compliance, and access to standards and quality certification, barriers that previously limited many small business owners to informal trading.

Odii also pointed to youth-focused initiatives. SMEDAN is currently working with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to convert bright ideas into viable businesses. The approach was to identify talent early, offer tools, and back them with business education and resources.

“This is what the Renewed Hope Agenda looks like in action; real support, real results, and a growing ecosystem where Nigerian businesses can thrive,” he stated.

An example is the SMEDAN Garment and Textile Hub in Abuja’s Idu Industrial Development Centre. Powered by solar and supported by the UNDP, the centre gives fashion entrepreneurs access to affordable machinery and consistent electricity, helping them scale up their operations.

“The solar-powered hub, made possible through a partnership with the UNDP, enables fashion entrepreneurs to access affordable industrial machines and stable power supply, thereby increasing productivity and job creation,” Odii explained.

Beyond hubs and partnerships, SMEDAN is pushing the “GROW Nigerian” strategy, an acronym for Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support. It’s designed to boost job creation and also deepen resilience within communities by anchoring local economies around empowered SMEs.

“The result is more jobs, stronger businesses, and greater value unlocked within communities nationwide.”

Not letting inflation, high costs, and policy shocks limit its goals, SMEDAN is building the foundation of a more stable and inclusive economy.