Small and medium development agency [Smedan] and development of small scale businesses nasarawa state, nigeira

The Small and Medium Development Agency [SMEDAN] was established to promote, boost and sustain the development of small and medium enterprises, SMEs, in Nigeria. This work is aimed at x-raying the contributions of SMEDAN in developing small and medium scale businesses in Nasarawa State of Nigeria. A survey research design, through the instrumentality of the structured questionnaire, was used to collect data and data from 130 small and medium scale businesses randomly selected from 210 small and medium scale businesses in Keffi, Nasarawa and Lafia local government areas of Nasarawa State. Data were analyzed using simple percentage analysis. The study revealed that SMEDAN had a small significant impact on small and medium scale businesses in Nasarawa State, especially in the areas of creating jobs; increase in investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and improving the socioeconomic status of the inhabitants. The study concluded that small and medium scale business enterprises have induced a little development in Nasarawa State, but the progress is still a far cry from the objectives of SMEDAN. The study recommended that governments and non-governmental organizations should create an enabling environment for the establishment and sustainability of small and medium scale businesses in view of their potential to aid poverty reduction.