A senior official at Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has stated that the economic advancement of developed nations was largely driven by the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), advocating for Nigeria to adopt a similar strategy to achieve sustainable growth.
Abdullahi Ganduje, Executive Director of Technical Services at the REA, presented this view in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Edwin Olofu. The statement followed an event held in Kano State over the weekend. Ganduje, son of former All Progressives Congress National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, emphasized that strengthening SMEs is a critical catalyst for long-term economic development.
He argued that the model employed by economically advanced countries provides a clear pathway. “Nations that are economically developed got there by empowering SMEs, and that is the path we are following,” Ganduje said.
To illustrate this approach, Ganduje highlighted initiatives such as the deployment of solar-powered irrigation pumps. He explained that such technologies enable Nigerian farmers to cultivate year-round, increasing agricultural productivity and improving rural livelihoods. This focus on renewable energy solutions aligns with the REA’s mandate under the Rural Electrification Act to expand access to reliable power, particularly in underserved areas where SMEs and agriculture form the economic backbone.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, continues to pursue economic diversification beyond its historical reliance on oil exports. With a significant portion of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture and a large youth demographic facing unemployment, policymakers have increasingly targeted SME growth as a vehicle for job creation and inclusive development. Ganduje’s comments reinforce this national priority, linking direct support for small businesses and agri-tech innovation to broader goals of poverty reduction and economic resilience.
The REA’s work in facilitating rural electrification is positioned as an enabler for this SME-centric strategy, by providing the stable energy infrastructure necessary for small-scale industries and modern farming to thrive. Observers note that scaling such interventions could be pivotal in addressing Nigeria’s productivity gaps and fostering a more diversified economic base.
