Headlines
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SMEDAN DG: CHARLES ODII
Last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the appointment of Charles Odii as the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
SMEDAN was established to promote and facilitate the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
Who is Charles Odii
Charles Odii, 35, is a highly respected entrepreneur and advocate for small businesses. He describes himself as someone on a mission to empower entrepreneurs and startups in Africa to create jobs, drive economic growth, and build a better future for all.
He has over a decade’s experience in senior management roles in the technology and business development sectors. He has a proven track record of success in leading and growing teams, developing and executing strategies, and building partnerships.
Academic Background
In 2009, Charles Odii earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Covenant University. He then pursued Project Management Certification (Prince 2, Foundation and Practitioner) in 2011, at the same university.
He also has a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Communications and a PhD in Media and Communications from Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Nigeria.
Work Experience
In his most recent role as Country Manager at Elephant Healthcare, United Kingdom (Sept 2021 – Sept 2023), he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations in Nigeria. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice President, Marketing at Softcom (Sept 2020 – Sept 2021) and Executive Director at SME100Africa (July 2014 – Sep 2020).
He was the Chief Operating Officer at The Future Project (December 2013 – July 2014), Projects Team Lead, Bilateral Data & Communications (April 2012 – October 2013) and started out as Account Manager, Dimension Data (NTT Group) (December 2009 – April 2012)
Small Business Initiatives
Mr. Odii has for over the past decade exuded a unrivalled passion for the development of small and medium businesses in Nigeria. It is in this spirt and enthusiasm that he has founded several initiatives to promote the cause of small and medium scale enterprises. Some of these initiatives include:
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- 100talks (Radio/Tv/Magazine )- A media organization set up to tell the stories of young entrepreneurs impacting their communities
- International women’s day summit – The summit is now in its 8th year, and it features a pitch competition and digital marketing training for women.
- Nigeria’s Youth entrepreneurship leadership Program a.k.a 25 under 25. Now in its 8th year, every year, we go around Nigeria looking for young people under the age of 25 who are doing amazing things and contributing to socio- economic development in Nigeria.
- The Nigeria Small Business Summit – a yearly event that brings together government, academia, SMEs, and the private sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Nigeria.
- 100ClubAfrica -A teenage entrepreneur club, teaching young Nigeria about the importance of starting early
Awards
Charles was listed as one of the top 100 innovative entrepreneurs in Nigeria, according to YTech 100. He has been selected for the United States Young African Leaders Initiative twice (2017, 2018), as both a leader and a mentor.
In 2019, he was named on the Forbes’ list of 30 under 30. He has also won the Future Awards Africa Prize in advocacy for his work promoting small businesses.
Fellowship
Charles Odii is a Fellow of the United States International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). He is also a founding member and the first Chair of the SME100Africa Global Youth Council. He is a member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the Nigerian Small Business Council.
He is also an advisor to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.
As the new Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Odii is expected to use his skills and experience to help the agency achieve its mandate of promoting and facilitating the development of MSMEs in Nigeria.
He is expected to focus on the following areas: Improving access to finance and markets for MSMEs, providing training and support to MSMEs, advocating for policies and reforms that support MSMEs,
Overall, Mr. Odii is expected to play a key role in helping MSMEs in Nigeria to grow and succeed and create millions of jobs. He has the skills, experience, and passion to make a real difference.
Mr. Charles Odii’s experience as a social entrepreneur will be valuable in this new role. He is expected to bring a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to challenges of the SME community.
The SMEDAN DG resumed office on Monday 16th October 2023, he was received by the former DG, Dr. Tunde Fasanya.
The post WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SMEDAN DG: CHARLES ODII appeared first on Jomog.
Education
1ST NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS CONFERENCE ON UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ESSAY COMPETITION
Competition Overview:
The SDG Youth Essay Competition offers a grand prize of N1 million for the top three winners, along with free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– Open exclusively to undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
2. Entry Guidelines:
– Topic:The Role of Students in Attainment of SDG4
– length: Essays should be 1500 words.
– Entry Period: Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Thursday, February 29, 2024
– Referencing: APA Style (6th Edition).
– Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font size.
– Documentation: Typed in 1.5 line spacing, MS Word format only.
– Plagiarism: Only original content is accepted; plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
Benefits:
– Prizes:
– 1st Prize: N500,000
– 2nd Prize: N300,000
– 3rd Prize: N200,000
– Winners will also receive free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Required Documents:
– Student’s Institution ID Card
– Copy of Student’s Admission Letter
– One recent passport-size photograph
– WhatsApp telephone number and email address
Application Procedure:
– All entries and submissions (essay and required documents) should be scanned and sent to nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org before the deadline.
For Further Inquiries:
– Call: 08068931151, 08133846739, 07067772964
– Email: nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org
Deadline: February 29th, 2024
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to achieving SDG4 and win exciting prizes. Submit your entry and required documents before the deadline. For any inquiries, feel free to contact them via phone or email.
Competition Overview:
The National Essay Competition invites undergraduate law students to showcase their expertise and contribute to the discourse on AI, privacy, and data protection. In addition to cash prizes, participants have the chance to intern with Pentagon Partners, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– The competition is open to 400-level and 500-level undergraduate law students in Nigerian universities.
2. Essay Requirements:
– Length: Essays should not exceed 1500 words.
– Format: Double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.
– References: OSCOLA format for citations with 10pt font size for footnotes and endnotes.
– Submission Format: Essays must be submitted in PDF format.
– Entrant Details: Include full names, school, level, phone number, and email address in both the body of the email and on the last page of the essay.
– Single Entry: Each entrant is allowed only one submission.
– Originality: Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
Competition Benefits and Timeline:
1. Prizes:
– Winner: N200,000
– 1st Runner Up: N150,000
– 2nd Runner Up: N100,000
2. Internship Opportunity:
– In addition to cash prizes, winners have the exclusive opportunity to intern with Pentagon Partners, enhancing their career prospects.
Application Procedure:
– Interested participants should submit their essays to essay@pentagonpartnerslp.com during the submission period.
– The subject of the email should be the Essay topic
For additional information and updates, visit www.pentagonpartnerslp.com.
Deadline: March 22nd, 2024
Don’t miss this chance to showcase your legal expertise, contribute to important discussions on AI and law, and vie for enticing cash prizes. Pentagon Partners looks forward to receiving your submissions.
Purpose:
Inaugurated in 2020, the CDEC is part of SystemSpecs’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to promoting capacity development in the Nigerian ICT industry. By encouraging young Nigerians to tackle everyday issues, the competition contributes to intellectual growth and societal progress.
Topic:
The theme for the 2024 competition is “Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology.” Participants are tasked with exploring strategies to safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.
Eligibility:
– Open to primary and secondary school students in Nigeria aged 9 to 16.
– Junior category (ages 9 to 12) essays must not exceed 1,000 words.
– Senior category (ages 13 to 16) essays must not exceed 1,500 words.
Prizes:
– Winners will receive generous rewards, including a high-capacity laptop, premium headphones, a portable laptop stand, a smart wristwatch, and one year of internet data, among other items.
– Consolation prizes will be awarded to other participants.
Application Process:
– Interested candidates should access the application page
– Essays must be written in English and reflect original thought.
– Each participant is limited to one entry.
– Entries must be endorsed by an accredited school official, parent, or legal guardian.
– Deadline for submissions is April 12, 2024.
Submission Guidelines:
– All submissions must be in PDF format and include the student’s name, home and school addresses, email address, and contact phone number.
– Double entries will result in automatic disqualification.
– Submissions must be received by March 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Notification of Winners:
– Successful students and schools will be contacted in the second quarter of the year.
– Updates on winners will be announced on @nercng social media platforms.
The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition offers a unique opportunity for Nigerian students to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills. By addressing the theme of online child protection, participants contribute to building a safer and more secure digital environment for all. We encourage eligible students to seize this opportunity and showcase their talent and ingenuity.
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