Ebonyi SME Agency

HIGHLIGHTS FROM YESTERDAY’S SABER CONSULTATIVE MEETING IN ABAKALIKI

Yesterday, Ebonyi State reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the business environment through a consultative meeting with private sector leaders and key stakeholders under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).
Venue: Staff Development Centre, Abakaliki
Goal: To foster collaboration and simplify processes that enhance the ease of doing business in Ebonyi State.

Key regulatory agencies invited included:
FIRS | SON | CAC | FIRS |NAFDAC |RMRDC | BOI BOA |Nigeria Export Promotion Council | NEXIM | NIMC | Others promoting business efficiency.

Also present were leaders of major associations, including:
ARTISAN Association |MATAN |Chambers of Commerce (ECCIMA, SCCI, SALTCCIMA, etc.) RIFAN |Women Entrepreneurs | NASSI |NUJ |Women in Mining |Block Molders | Rice Millers |Ebonyi Export Club | EBSMATA | CSO/NGO coalitions, among others.

Government MDAs in attendance included:
Ministry of Trade & Investment |Ministry of Commerce & Industry |Ebonyi State IRS |Ministry of Lands & Survey |Ministry of ICT |Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources |Ebonyi Judiciary (Small Claims Court) |Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board |Ebonyi State Revenue Appeal Commission.

Discussions focused on:
* Removing bottlenecks for SMEs & investors
* Improving service delivery & transparency
*Enhancing regulatory efficiency
* Strengthening public-private collaboration

The meeting underscored the Government’s unwavering resolve to build a more business-friendly, transparent and investment-ready Ebonyi State.

Together, we drive progress and prosperity.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

A consultative meeting of the Private Sector and Stakeholders aimed at promoting the ease of doing business in the State under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme has been scheduled to hold as follows:
Date: 21st October, 2025
Time: 10.00 am
Venue: Staff Development Centre, Abakaliki

The invited stakeholders to the meeting include representatives of;
- Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
- Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON)
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
- State Internal Revenue Service (SIRS)
- National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC)
- Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)
- Bank of Industry (BOI)
- Bank of Agriculture (BOA);
- Nigeria Export Promotion Council;
- Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank;
- National Identity Management Commission (NIMC); and
- Other Agencies that promote Ease of Doing Business in Ebonyi State.

Also invited to the meeting are:
i. The leadership of:
- ARTISAN Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi Chapter
- Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN)
- National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME)
- Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN)
- Ebonyi Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture
- Scholars Chambers of Commerce (SCCI)
- Salt City Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (SALTCCIMA) and other Chambers of Commerce
- Ebonyi Export Club
- National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
- EB-Coalition of CSOs
- Ebonyi State Market Traders Association (EBSMATA)
- Association of Women Entrepreneurs
- Ebonyi Network of NGOs and CSOs
- National Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI)
- Association of Stone Crushers
- National Association of Block Molders, Ebonyi Chapter
- Rice Millers Association
- Women in Mining
- Market Men Traders Association
- Market Women Traders Association

ii. The Representatives of:
- Ministry of Trade and Investment
- Ebonyi State Internal Revenue Service
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Ministry of Lands and Survey
- Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT)
- Ebonyi State Judiciary (Small Claims Court)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board
- Ebonyi State Revenue Appeal Commission

Signed:
Dr Stephen I. Odo, FBDI
D-G, EBSMEDA and
Focal Person, Ebonyi SABER &
EoDB Council

We’re delighted to share that the Director General,EBSMEDA,Dr. Stephen ODO, had the privilege of speaking on Friday, 17th October at the Youth Alive Fellowship (YAF) Empowerment Summit, themed “KINGDOM GIANTS, Living Faith Church,Ejiofor Street.

The summit was an inspiring gathering dedicated to empowering young entrepreneurs and small business owners, especially among the youth. It provided an incredible platform for participants to learn, grow, and gain practical tools to navigate today’s economic challenges while embracing entrepreneurship as a meaningful and rewarding career path.
It was truly a time of:
*Insightful learning
*Personal and business growth
*Inspiration, innovation, and resilience

We are proud to have been part of this impactful initiative, building a future driven by creativity, purpose, and leadership.

We’re excited to announce that our Director General, EBSMEDA,Dr. Stephen Odo, will be speaking today at the Youth Alive Fellowship (YAF) Empowerment Summit, tagged; "KINGDOM GIANTS" ; an inspiring event dedicated to empowering and boosting small business owners especially among the youth.

This summit provides an incredible opportunity for young people to learn, grow, and gain the tools needed to navigate today’s economic challenges while embracing entrepreneurship as a meaningful and rewarding career path.

Don't be missing in this summit!!
Please be present and let’s build a future driven by innovation, resilience, and creativity!

The Director General EBSMEDA, Dr. Stephen Odo held an engagement meeting on Thursday ,16th Oct, 2025 with, Anuli Adaeze Akabogu ,Bank of Industry (BOI) South East Region Manager,
Asiegbu Chukwudi,BOI Ebonyi State Manager, Promise Orukpe,BOI Ebonyi State Project Office, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chijioke,EBSIRS State Consultant and
Irem Sylvester .N,Chairman Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, EBSMEDA FELICITATES THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, RT HON. FRANCIS OGBONNA NWIFURU ON THE OCCASION OF NIGERIA AT 65 AND EBONYI STATE AT 29.

As Ebonyians join other Nigerians to mark the 65th Independence anniversary of Nigeria and the 29th anniversary celebration of the creation of Ebonyi State, I, Dr Stephen Odoh, Director General, Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency on behalf of my family and staff of the Agency heartily congratulate the Executive Governor of our dear state, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and his dear wife, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Mary Maudlin Uzoamaka Nwifuru.

Your Excellency, we are not only marking our anniversary as a nation and a state but we are also celebrating good governance and impactful leadership of your divine mandate administration in our dear state.

We are very proud of the great heights our dear state has attained in the last twenty-nine years, especially in the areas of infrastructure and human capital development, support to MSMEs and ease of doing business as well as peace and security, just to mention a few.

I also felicitate other leaders of our dear state including the State Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the State Chairman of our great party and the State Chief Judge among others on this all important events.

As we bask in the euphoria of this double-barrelled occasion, I pray God to grant Your Excellency more grace, wisdom and good health to take our dear state to the next level of development.

Accept assurances of my continuous undiluted support and solidarity to your people-oriented administration.

Long live, Ebonyi State!
Long live, Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Dr. Stephen I. Odo , the Director General, Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (EBSMEDA)/ State Focal Person SABER & Ease of Doing Business, was honored with the prestigious Ambassador Award by Interweave Solutions USA/Nigeria during the MBS Graduation Ceremony (August & September 2025 Cohorts).

This recognition reflects his unwavering commitment to entrepreneurship, empowerment, and sustainable development in our state.

The award presentation was graced by distinguished leaders, including:
• Collin Reid – International Director of Operations, Interweave Solutions
• Dr. Exodus Esuku – Country Director, Interweave Solutions Nigeria
• Pst. Amb CHUKWU Pauline Ifeoma – State Director, Interweave Solutions

We congratulate our DG on this well-deserved recognition and reaffirm our commitment to working with partners like Interweave Solutions to promote entrepreneurship and prosperity for our people.

The Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (EBSMEDA) is proud to have played a central role in the Master of Business in the Streets (MBS) Graduation Ceremony for the August & September 2025 cohorts, organized by Interweave Solutions USA/Nigeria.

Our Director-General , Dr. Stephen I. ODO , had the honor of serving as Chairman of the Occasion, alongside esteemed guests:

• Collin Reid - International Director of Operations, Interweave Solutions USA.

• Chief Dr. Exodus Esuku - Country Director, Interweave Solutions USA/Nigeria

• Pst. Amb. Chukwu Paulina Ifeoma - Director, Ebonyi State Interweave Solutions USA/ Nigeria

We celebrate the inspiring graduates who have completed their MBS training, gaining vital skills in business management, self-reliance, and community development. Together, we are fostering a future of sustainable growth and opportunity for our people.

Congratulations to all the graduates!