Tinubu says $12m Abuja entrepreneurship centre will support MSMEs

President Bola Tinubu has said a $12 million entrepreneurship centre being developed in Abuja will provide support to entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He said the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship would provide training, technology, incubation, workspaces and other forms of business support to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

The president’s remarks were contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

President Tinubu said the centre, funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), was being developed at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He noted that the project would initially target 500 entrepreneurs, 400 start-ups and 1,500 MSMEs.

What the centre will provide

President Tinubu said the centre would provide entrepreneurs with workspaces, digital facilities, training, incubation and enterprise development support.

He added that the facility would serve entrepreneurs in Abuja and surrounding cities, including Kaduna, Jos, Keffi, Lafia, Minna, Makurdi and Lokoja, while also providing support to businesses across northern Nigeria.

The centre will also have facilities designed to improve access for women and persons with disabilities, as well as a crèche.

He said $5.9 million of the project’s funding would go towards construction, while $6.1 million would be used for equipment and programmes.

He noted that while construction continues, SMEDAN, KOICA and UNDP would work with universities, business incubators, financial institutions, private-sector organisations and entrepreneur networks to provide support to businesses.

MSME support

The proposed centre adds to existing efforts by SMEDAN and its development partners to provide infrastructure, equipment, training and other support to small businesses.

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In February 2025, SMEDAN and UNDP launched a solar-powered garment and fashion hub and a makerspace at the agency’s Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja. The facility was designed to provide entrepreneurs with access to equipment, workspace and reliable electricity.

SMEDAN has also reported that its programmes include support for businesses to access funding, participate in supply chains and expand their operations.

President Tinubu said MSMEs remained important to the Nigerian economy because of their role in creating jobs and supporting families and communities.

He said the government would continue to support initiatives aimed at helping more Nigerians establish and expand businesses.

The project is also coming as the government expands other entrepreneurship and skills-development programmes. On Tuesday, the State House announced a Federal Government programme to train and provide start-up tools to 200 young people in Oyo State, with plans to replicate the programme across the six geopolitical zones.

The president commended the South Korean government, KOICA, UNDP and SMEDAN for their roles in the entrepreneurship centre.

He said the project would complement existing government efforts in digital skills, entrepreneurship and enterprise development.