The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a solar-powered garment-making center in Abuja. The center aims to reduce business costs and promote clean energy for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The center will benefit at least 120 entrepreneurs daily by providing free access to modern garment-making equipment.
This eliminates the expenses associated with power costs, machinery purchases, and maintenance. The center operates on 254 locally manufactured solar panels, generating 240 kVA to ensure a sustainable and uninterrupted energy supply. SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii said the initiative is designed to alleviate the economic pressures faced by small businesses due to rising costs.
“Small businesses can book a machine here, work for free, and not worry about power, machine purchases, or maintenance,” Odii said. The center also offers warehousing and distribution support. SMEDAN has secured partnerships with NIPOST and God Is Good Logistics, offering SMEs discounted distribution rates of 15 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.
The broader strategy includes boosting Nigeria’s industrial and employment sectors, with plans to replicate the model across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Solar-powered garment center launched
Odii explained that the center is equipped with 120 machines, each capable of employing at least five people, potentially creating around 700 direct and indirect jobs daily.
The initiative has already demonstrated success, as seen in the case of an entrepreneur who produced 7,000 garments and hired 280 workers to fulfil an order. UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Gyekyewaa Attafuah, commended the partnership and emphasised the role of SMEs as the backbone of the nation’s economy. She stressed the potential of such initiatives to position Nigeria competitively within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“Nigeria has 40 million micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises that contribute to GDP and job creation. By providing sustainable energy, we are enabling these businesses to thrive,” Attafuah stated. She added that UNDP is working on additional initiatives, such as the Timbuktu Initiative, which aims to invest $1 billion to support 10,000 startups across Africa.
The National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria called for the expansion of this initiative to other key cities like Kano to further strengthen the economy, create more jobs, and empower tailors. Minister of State for Youth Development, Olawande Ayodele, also announced that the Nigeria Youth Academy would soon be launched by the President to promote skills development and provide accessible working spaces, supporting and empowering the youth. The launch marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to support SMEs, reduce unemployment, and promote clean energy.
With plans for national expansion, the initiative has the potential to transform the garment industry, enhance local production, and drive economic growth.
