The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies to drive national development. SMEDAN's Director-General, Charles Odii, made this call in a keynote address at the 2026 Ulefunta Annual Lecture in Akure, Ondo State. He stressed that government policies and intervention programs often fail to address grassroots needs due to lack of community input.
Odii highlighted the valuable knowledge that traditional rulers and community leaders possess about their communities, including customs, land use, economic potential, and unique challenges. He argued that this knowledge should be incorporated into development planning to ensure that policies are effective and relevant. Odii also emphasized the importance of community participation, transparency, impact measurement, inclusion, and sustainability in government intervention programs.
SMEDAN has launched its Community Enterprise Development Programme to deepen the involvement of traditional rulers and community leaders in enterprise development. The program aims to ensure that traditional institutions are involved from the beginning to the end of development projects, rather than being brought in after decisions have been taken. This approach is expected to facilitate community ownership of development programs and enhance their success.
Traditional institutions can play a crucial role in mobilizing farmers, artisans, women, and youths, identifying genuine economic opportunities, and facilitating community ownership of development programs. Odii noted that agriculture needs to be moved beyond subsistence farming through the development of the entire value chain, including processing, packaging, logistics, technology, and marketing. This would help to create more jobs and increase economic growth.
The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, welcomed the SMEDAN initiative, describing it as a bridge between traditional institutions and government intervention agencies. He noted that the program would expose rural dwellers, farmers, and young entrepreneurs to funding and other development opportunities available. The monarch also highlighted the role of traditional institutions in serving as a bridge between intervention agencies and the people at the grassroots.
The 2026 Ulefunta Festival Committee Chairman, Olu Adekunle Ajanaku, said the colloquium was organized to sensitize rural dwellers, farmers, and young entrepreneurs to government funding and development opportunities. 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.
The Ulefunta Festival, an annual socio-cultural reunion, features tourism and cultural activities and has continued to attract global attention due to its inclusiveness and promotion of cultural values, social life, and aspirations of the people. The festival is devoid of fetish practices and has become a platform for promoting unity and development in the region.
Key points
- SMEDAN calls for collaboration with traditional institutions to drive national development in Nigeria.
- The agency has launched its Community Enterprise Development Programme to deepen the involvement of traditional rulers and community leaders in enterprise development.
- Traditional institutions can play a crucial role in mobilizing farmers, artisans, women, and youths, and facilitating community ownership of development programs.
