Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe. The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEA,

The Management of Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), has unveiled plans to establish a state-of the-art Digital Academy to create jobs and boost the capacity of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the nation’s capital territory

The Agency is also financing 4,761 businesses, sensitization and promotion of entrepreneurship to 9,557 people, provision of business support services to 3,691 rural entrepreneurs in the six Area Councils of the FCT,

The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEA, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe disclosed this while briefing news men on activities and future projections of the agency

According to the acting CEO, “the Centre which is expected to serve as a centralize hub for SMEs, would in addition deepen SMEs business activities as well as open new market opportunities”.

Mr. Ezirigwe also hinted that aside the establishment of a Digital Academy, plan is underway to set up a world-class Automobile Service Centre and scrap Enterprise Incubation Hub to create a platform for young people to put their potentials into productive use.

The overall objective, he said is to make Abuja stand out as the leading city for entrepreneurial development in Nigeria.

He stated further that the “Agency is also working assiduously to support the growth of 150,000 MSMEs, expand the provision of business development services to cover 50,000 MSMEs, strengthen the entrepreneurial eco-system synergy coordination as well as positioning FCT as a clean energy city”.

Dwelling on achievements of the Organization within the period under review, the AEA boss said the agency also “financing of 4,761 businesses, sensitization and promotion of entrepreneurship to 9,557 people, provision of business support services to 3,691 rural entrepreneurs in the six Area Councils of FCT,, fostered dialogue and interactive sessions between MSMEs and Regulatory Organizations, engagement with the community and rehabilitation of Cassava Processing Centre in Chikuku in Kwali Area Council and revitalization of Shea Butter Project Concept in Abaji Area Council”

In the area of corporate  partnership, the acting MD acknowledged European Union as a formidable partner for supporting the Agency in the growth of SMEs; KOICA and JICA for building staff capacity, Corporate Affairs  Commission(CAC) ,for business registration and incorporation facilitation, as well as SMEDAN for midwifing business funding and NIDTA for information technology  training for staff of the Agency, amongst others.