By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the construction of the $12 million Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship, saying the facility will strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem, create jobs and expand economic activity.
Funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA, the centre is being developed at the SMEDAN Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, in partnership with the Federal Government through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Programme.
The Presidency disclosed this on Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 saying the centre would provide facilities, technology, training, incubation and enterprise support for entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.
It has an initial target of supporting 500 entrepreneurs, 400 start-ups and 1,500 MSMEs, with about $5.9 million earmarked for construction and $6.1 million for equipment and business-support programmes.
Tinubu said the centre would improve entrepreneurs’ access to the facilities, technology, training and support needed to establish, strengthen and grow their businesses.
“Small businesses are an important part of our economy. They employ people, support families and create activity in communities across the country.
“Many entrepreneurs already have the ideas and the determination to succeed. What they often need is better access to facilities, technology, training and the support that can help their businesses grow.
“This Centre will provide more of that support and strengthen the ecosystem around them,” he said.
The centre will serve businesses in Abuja and surrounding cities, including Kaduna, Jos, Keffi, Lafia, Minna, Makurdi and Lokoja, while contributing to a stronger entrepreneurship and MSME ecosystem across Northern Nigeria.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would continue to create conditions that enable small businesses to grow and compete.
“We want more Nigerians to be able to start businesses, grow them and employ others.
“We also want existing small businesses to have better access to the tools and support they need to become stronger and more productive.
“That is important for jobs, incomes and the wider economy,” the President said.
He said the project complemented the administration’s investments in digital skills, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and MSME support.
The centre has also been designed to accommodate women and persons with disabilities, with accessible facilities and crèche services for women with young children.
While construction continues, SMEDAN, KOICA and UNDP will work with universities, incubators, financial institutions, private-sector organisations and entrepreneur networks to build a wider support system around the centre and identify businesses that could benefit from its programmes.
Tinubu thanked the South Korean Government for the $12 million investment and commended KOICA, UNDP and SMEDAN for advancing the project to the construction stage.
He said Nigeria would continue to welcome investments and partnerships that strengthen local businesses, deepen enterprise development and create more jobs.
“Our economy will be stronger when more Nigerian businesses can start, survive and grow.
“We must keep building the support around them and opening more opportunities for enterprise across the country,” Tinubu said.
