Economy
SMEDAN Unveils New Plan To Boost Entrepreneurship
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has rolled out a new initiative for cultivating entrepreneurship development at the grass roots and in schools.
SMEDAN, which is an arm of the Presidency, unveiled the National School Entrepreneurship Programme (N-SEP), for this purpose.
The agency said N-SEP aims to deliver hands-on entrepreneurship and community service education to every primary and secondary school student in Nigeria so as to eliminate poverty, conflicts and massive youth unemployment.
Participating schools will run a ‘School Bank’ conducted by students and facilitated by contributing commercial banks in the country.
This is expected to boost financial literacy and financial inclusion as well as spur investment culture in young people.
It is also expected to create a network of young leaders who will see the challenges in their communities as their responsibilities.
According to SMEDAN’s calculations the expected outcome in the first year of the programme includes a direct impact on about 370,000 pupils.
The programme is projected to create about 3,700 micro businesses and community service projects by participating schools, while about 5,000 teachers will be trained on how to deliver hands-on entrepreneurship and community service education to students in primary and secondary schools.
It also projects to recruit about 18,500 business and civic leaders as Business Advisory Board Members, thereby enhancing community participation.
About 370,000 students bank accounts is projected to be operated along with about 3,700 school enterprise bank accounts to be operated in estimated 3’700 school banks. N-SEP is an initiative of SMEDAN and Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE).
SAGE is an international programme initiated at the California State University Chico, USA. It is currently operating in all the continents of the world and it engages young people in a hands-on learning process on how to create wealth, help others and their communities.
According to SMEDAN, because N-SEP is a comprehensive national program it will be coordinating its planning and activities with the office of the Vice President and various stakeholders, which include state governments, Federal Ministry of Education, Financial Institutions, public agencies and private sector organizations.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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