SMEDAN seeks traditional rulers’ role in national development

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies to drive food security, wealth creation and national development.

The Federal Government agency said government policies and intervention programmes designed without adequate community input often failed to address the realities and needs of people, particularly at the grassroots.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, stated this in a keynote address he delivered at the 2026 Ulefunta Annual Lecture held in Akure, Ondo State on Wednesday. A copy of the address was made available to our correspondent on Thursday.

The address was titled, ‘Food security, wealth creation and national development: building strategic partnerships between traditional institutions and intervention agencies.’

According to him, traditional rulers and community leaders possessed valuable knowledge of their communities, including customs, land use, economic potential, and unique challenges, which should be incorporated into development planning.

He said, “We cannot sit in Abuja and make policies for people at the rural and community level. For these policies to work, we must first involve community owners, community leaders and stakeholders in the design.

“Community participation, transparency, impact measurement, inclusion and sustainability are critical to the success of all government intervention programmes.”

Odii disclosed that the agency had launched its Community Enterprise Development Programme to deepen the involvement of traditional rulers and community leaders in enterprise development.

“The programme is designed to ensure that traditional institutions are involved from the beginning to the end of development projects rather than being brought in after decisions had been taken.

• Canada warns citizens against unregulated alcohol in Nigeria
• Akwa Ibom gov urges traditional rulers to sustain unity, peace
• South East commission unveils 200-hectare farm project in Enugu

“Traditional institutions can help government agencies mobilise farmers, artisans, women and youths, identify genuine economic opportunities and facilitate community ownership of development programmes in their respective domains,” he explained.

The SMEDAN boss also stated that agriculture needed to be moved beyond subsistence farming through the development of the entire value chain, including processing, packaging, logistics, technology and marketing.

In his remarks, the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies, adding that it was aimed at exposing rural dwellers, farmers and young entrepreneurs to funding and other development opportunities available.

The monarch noted that the traditional institution would serve as a bridge between intervention agencies and the people at the grassroots, stressing that participating farmers’ associations, community leaders and traditional chiefs had been mobilised to take the information back to their communities.

The monarch also described the Ulefunta Festival as an annual socio-cultural reunion featuring tourism and cultural activities, stressing that it was devoid of fetish practices.

Earlier, the Chairman of the 2026 Ulefunta Festival Committee, Olu Adekunle Ajanaku, said the colloquium was organised to sensitise rural dwellers, farmers and young entrepreneurs to government funding and development opportunities.

Ajanaku said the festival had continued to attract global attention because of its inclusiveness and promotion of the cultural values, social life and aspirations of the people.

He expressed optimism that the renewed spirit of unity among the three Akure-speaking local government areas would lead to the establishment of the Akure People’s Central Council and Akure Traditional Council.