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CWG, SMEDAN Partner on Technology for SMEs

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Computer Warehouse Group CWG Plc in a bid to ensure the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
The objective of the MOU is to provide an ICT technology platform for the use of MSMEs at very little cost; this would also avail them the services of an Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) platform called Small and Medium Enterprise Resource Planning (SMERP).
This platform will allow the MSMEs to manage their business operations and provides functionalities such as accounting management, inventory management, sales and order tracking.
The MOU’s Second objective is to provide an e-commerce platform that enables MSMEs to sell their goods and services online by creating a virtual store for each SME on the internet.
In his remark at the signing ceremony, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, director-general of SMEDAN lamented the major issues affecting MSMEs, including access to finance and markets.
He said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SMEDAN and the Computer Warehouse Group will effectively ameliorate these challenges.
Alhaji Masari noted that the challenges facing the country today would be a thing of the past if the potentials of the MSME sub sector of the economy is fully realised. He said the development of the MSME sector is key to poverty alleviation adding that the collaboration with CWG Plc is crucial to the development of MSMEs in the country.
Responding, Austin Okere, founder/chief executive officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) said the SMEDAN/CWG collaboration would boost the development of MSMEs in the country. He said the latest World Bank Doing Business Report indicated that Nigeria had moved five 5 places up, adding this is well above the average improvement of two positions by the MINT countries comprising of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.
Mr. Okere added that the starting a business and getting credit pillars saw the most significant changes moving up nine and 73 places respectively, a situation he said was significantly aided by the contribution of SMEDAN.
According to Okere “We know that unemployment is a big issue in our country, according to statistics from the NBS, unemployment in Nigeria today stands at 23.9 percent or 16 million people. If this project helps the 17.7 million MSMEs to build capacity so that they each employ one additional person, we would have helped to create 17.7 million jobs’’.
Continuing, he said “for me the pursuit of this sustainable social impact investing objective, which we have termed CWG2.0, ties in strongly with the SMEDAN mandate, and we are pleased to join hand with SMEDAN to actualise it”.
Okere commended SMEDAN for the stringent due diligence which has culminated in the signing of the MOU, which he considers just the beginning of what both parties need to do in this laudable journey towards helping SMEs.
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Anambra Shines in 2025 E-Governance Rankings, Setting National Standards

Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
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SERAP Urges National Assembly to Reject Tinubu’s $24Bn Loan Request Over Debt Concerns

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to reject the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion, warning that the move would significantly deepen Nigeria’s debt crisis.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the advocacy group warned that the proposed borrowing would raise Nigeria’s total debt stock to an estimated ₦183 trillion—an amount it described as “clearly not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
“The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion,” the group said. “The growing national debt is not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
SERAP expressed concern over the heavy burden of debt servicing, which it said is already consuming a substantial portion of government revenue, leaving little room for critical public investment.
Nigeria’s total public debt is projected to surpass ₦180 trillion following the president’s latest loan request. The borrowing plan includes a proposal for over $21.5 billion in external loans, which equates to ₦33.39 trillion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,590 per dollar. The administration is also seeking approval for a domestic bond issuance worth ₦757.9 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities.
President Tinubu said the 2025–2026 borrowing plan targets key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, water supply, security, and employment generation. He noted that the plan is also intended to cushion the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The total loan request comprises $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, and 15 billion Japanese Yen, alongside a €65 million grant. Tinubu assured lawmakers that the funds would be directed toward development projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with emphasis on rail networks, healthcare infrastructure, and poverty alleviation programs.
On pension-related borrowing, the president explained that the proposed bond issuance is aimed at clearing backlogs under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The measure, he added, has already received approval from the Federal Executive Council and is expected to improve retirees’ welfare, restore trust in the pension system, and inject liquidity into the economy.
Nigeria’s public debt has surged in recent years, rising by 48.6% in 2024 to ₦144.66 trillion—up from ₦97.34 trillion in 2023. The Federal Government accounts for 95% of that total.
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