02/11/2026
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SIDE OF EVERY SECTOR: THE ROLE OF EBSMEDA IN IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES
1. Understanding the role of EBSMEDA
The Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA) was established to promote entrepreneurship, support MSMEs and contribute to economic development in the state.
However, entrepreneurship goes beyond buying and selling or owning a shop. It cuts across virtually every sector of the economy.
Every profession, skill, talent, institution and government activity has an entrepreneurial dimension that can be developed to create value, generate income and provide employment.
This is why EBSMEDA's role extends beyond conventional businesses. We are interested in identifying opportunities across sectors and helping people turn their ideas, skills and talents into sustainable enterprises.
2. Every sector has an entrepreneurial dimension
There is an entrepreneurial angle to almost everything we do.
Arts and creative industry: Artists should not only create beautiful works but also understand how to market, sell and earn from their creativity.
Medicine and healthcare: There are business opportunities in medical technology, laboratories, pharmaceutical services, medical equipment and other health-related enterprises.
Engineering and technology: Engineers can transform their knowledge and innovations into products, businesses and services that solve problems.
Agriculture: Beyond planting and harvesting, there are opportunities in processing, packaging, storage, transportation and export.
Education: There are opportunities in educational technology, training, learning materials and other educational services.
Government ministries and agencies: Their programmes can create opportunities for manufacturers, suppliers, artisans, service providers and other MSMEs.
Our responsibility is to help identify these opportunities and encourage collaboration with the relevant sectors so that more Ebonyians can benefit from them.
3. Why collaboration with other ministries and organisations matters
Entrepreneurship development cannot be achieved by EBSMEDA alone. It requires collaboration with other ministries, government agencies, private organisations, professional associations and institutions.
We want other ministries and organisations to see us as partners in identifying the economic opportunities within their activities and programmes.
Our goal is to ensure that government interventions and other development initiatives also contribute to enterprise development, job creation and income generation.
4. Life in My City Art Festival: Bringing entrepreneurship into the creative industry
Our recent participation in the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) in Enugu is a practical example of how EBSMEDA fits into different sectors.
The creative industry is an important part of the economy. Artists are not just people who draw, paint or produce artworks for exhibitions. They are entrepreneurs whose creativity can generate income, create employment and contribute to economic development.
At the festival's grand finale, we witnessed a female artist emerge as the overall winner from a competition involving over 100 artists across Nigeria. She received a $2,000 cash prize and a travel grant.
This shows what is possible when talent is discovered, developed and given the right platform.
For us, the experience was also a challenge. We do not want Ebonyi artists to remain spectators at the next edition. We want them to participate, compete and win.
5. Building a sustainable creative industry in Ebonyi State
Our interest in LIMCAF goes beyond participating in the annual competition. We are exploring ways to build a stronger creative industry in Ebonyi State.
There are three important steps we are currently considering:
A. Establishment of a LIMCAF Art Region in Ebonyi State
LIMCAF has officially written to EBSMEDA concerning the possibility of establishing an art region in Ebonyi State. We are interested in this opportunity and will work with the relevant ministry and other stakeholders to explore how it can be achieved.
We are also looking at the requirements, including the number of artists needed to establish an art region in a state. Our objective is to build a sufficient and active community of visual artists that can sustain such a regional structure.
B. Possibility of establishing an art studio
We are also considering the establishment of an art studio in the state, subject to confirming whether a suitable one already exists.
The Ebonyi team that represented the state at the LIMCAF grand finale, alongside other interested artists, will work together to develop a proposal outlining what is required to establish and operate such a studio.
The idea is to create an environment where artists can develop their skills, collaborate, produce works, learn and access opportunities.
C. Building a database and network of visual artists
We have commenced the collation of a database of visual artists in Ebonyi State.
If you are a visual artist, we encourage you to contact EBSMEDA or call 0813 383 6372 to be added to the artists' WhatsApp group.
We need to identify our artists, know their numbers, understand their areas of specialisation and build a network that can support future opportunities, including the proposed LIMCAF Art Region.
6. Turning creative talent into sustainable businesses
Beyond exhibitions and competitions, we want artists to understand the business side of their creativity.
It is not enough to know how to paint or draw. Artists must also understand pricing, marketing, branding, intellectual property, customer relations and how to reach potential buyers.
A talented artist should be able to make a living from that talent. Creativity should not end with producing beautiful works; it should also create economic value for the creator.
This is the kind of entrepreneurship mindset we want to encourage across all professions and sectors.
7. Preparing for the 2027 LIMCAF competition
As we look towards the 2027 edition, our intention is to identify and prepare more Ebonyi artists to participate.
We want to move from simply attending the festival to having our artists actively represented and competing for the available prizes and opportunities.
With proper preparation, exposure, collaboration and support, we believe Ebonyi artists can emerge among the top contenders and win the $2,000 prize and the accompanying travel grant.
But this preparation must begin now, which is why identifying and organising our artists is important.
8. A call for collaboration and participation
EBSMEDA is open to working with ministries, government agencies, private organisations, professional associations, creative groups and individuals interested in developing the entrepreneurial potential of their sectors.
We encourage professionals to look beyond the technical aspects of what they do and consider how their skills and knowledge can create economic opportunities.
We also encourage artists and other creative entrepreneurs in Ebonyi State to identify with the Agency and participate in the opportunities being developed.
Our goal is to build an economy where people do not just acquire skills or have talents but also understand how to turn them into income, businesses and employment opportunities.
9. Conclusion
Entrepreneurship is not limited to one profession, ministry or sector. Every sector has opportunities that can be developed into enterprises.
EBSMEDA is positioned to work across these sectors, build partnerships and help translate ideas, skills and talents into economic value.
Our participation in LIMCAF is one example of this broader responsibility. We are looking beyond the competition to building structures, networks and opportunities that will help the creative industry grow in Ebonyi State.
As we continue to support the economic development agenda of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, our focus remains on promoting entrepreneurship, supporting SMEs and creating opportunities for more Ebonyians to become economically productive.
