UNIZIK centre for Capital Market Studies to groom, mentor SMEs across Anambra State

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

The Director, UNIZIK Centre for Capital Market Studies (UCCMS), Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe has vowed to groom and mentor Small, Medium and Enterprises (SMEs) in Anambra State for more improved and inclusive future.

Onyeizugbe disclosed this at 2-day conference and workshop organised in Awka by the Unizik Centre for Capital Market Studies (UCCMS) in collaboration with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the theme, “Harnessing Capital Market Opportunities for SME Growth and Investment Sustainability."

According to him, the Centre was dedicated to advancing capital market education, policy research, innovation and capacity development in Nigeria. 

According to him, " In pursuit of this goal, the Centre intends to establish an Innovation Hub in partnership with the SEC, SMEDAN and other willing institutions.  This Hub will serve as a training, incubation, and mentoring platform where SMEs, start ups and innovators can acquire skills on business structuring, financial management and capital formation within the market ecosystem.

"To achieve this, we have developed programmes that reflect the growing needs of the financial and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Sequel to the Igba Boi Apprenticeship law recently enacted by the Anambra State Government, the UNIZIK Centre for Capital Market Studies is proposing to collaborate with the Securities and Exchange Commission to embark on a major initiative to groom and mentor SMEs across the State and beyond.

"Beyond training, the Innovation Hub will also serve as a knowledge exchange and research centre, fostering collaboration between government, investors and academia to design practical solutions for SME growth and economic transformation. Let this conference inspire new collaborations, policy innovation and actionable pathways that will shape a more inclusive and prosperous future for Nigeria.

" As we begin this important conversation, let us remember that the capital market is more than a financial system.  It is a vehicle of empowerment, innovation and national transformation. When SMEs are equipped with the knowledge and tools to access capital, they do not just grow businesses – they build communities, create jobs and sustain development," he stated.

He explained that the workshop was a gathering of policymakers, academics, regulators, investors and entrepreneurs to reposition the Nigerian economy through sustainable enterprise and capital market participation.

In lead paper presenters, MD/CEO, SPS, Financial Services Limited, Mr Patrick Ilodianya, and Director General, SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, urged stakeholders to invest on capital markets as they are backbone of commerce, whether physical or financial.

"Just as Onitsha Market connects buyers and sellers of everyday goods, capital markets facilitate the exchange of financial instruments. Both ecosystems share fundamental principles: diverse products, multiple players, regulatory oversight, and strategies for success," Ilodianya stated.

Also speaking, the Acting Vice Chancellor, UNIZIK, Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi, observed that outcome of the conference/workshop would impact positively on the socioeconomic development of Nigeria by ramping up the growth and sustainability of the country's SMEs driven by the Capital market.

"The full realisation of the potential contribution of SMEs to socioeconomic development is hampered by inadequate funds. All over the world, SMEs have played key roles in socioeconomic development, they create jobs, innovation, business competition, and as the backbone of the economy, contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product, in the higher bracket as much as 60% in China, 51% in the USA, and varying noteworthy contributions in other economies," she stated.

On his part, the Director General, SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama, represented by Executive Commissioner (Legal), Ms Frana Chukwuogor, called on universities, especially those in southeast to establish innovation hubs and expatiate action towards bridging the gaps between theories and convention.

Earlier speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Entrepreneurship Development (Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy), Chalya Shagaya, disclosed the federal government commitment towards eliminating barriers to business and straightening collaboration with entrepreneurs to build a stronger economy.

She said that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government was fully focused on building a 1 trillion-dollar economy, not by magic, but by enterprise, productivity, and innovation.

"To truly harness capital market opportunities for SME growth, we must move from policy papers to practical power plays. To our investors: look beyond the blue chips. The next big entrepreneur building a future industrial enterprise may already be in your backyard, operating from a small factory or a laptop in Nnewi, Aba, or Onitsha. Do not wait till they hit Forbes before you notice them.

"As a government, we would continue to eliminate barriers to business. And to our entrepreneurs: keep doing what you do best, innovate, persevere, and disrupt. You are the heartbeat of this economy. And trust me, the Federal Government sees you, hears you, and is working daily to make sure you thrive.

"At the end of the day, capital does not build nations, people do. People with ideas, grit, and the courage to try again after failure. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, we are laying a foundation for a Nigeria where every small business has a fair shot, where good ideas do not die and where entrepreneurship becomes not just survival, but success. So, let us harness the power of our capital markets, our creativity, and our collective will to build a Nigeria that works for everyone," she stated.

She further explained that "The capital market is not just for billionaires; it is a bridge. It connects small business owners with investors, long-term funding, and growth opportunities. We are also integrating sustainability principles so businesses can grow responsibly. Profit is great, but we are after something deeper: profit with purpose."