Center for Strategic Enterprise Development

10/07/2026

www.msmeindex.org

10/07/2026

Still trying to grow your business alone in Abuja? You're doing it the hard way.
There's a room full of entrepreneurs, investors, and executives already building together — and it costs nothing to join.
The Abuja Business Community (powered by ECC and CSED) connects you to real opportunities, real people, and real growth. Locally and globally.
Membership is FREE. Join here: www.community.csed.org.ng

02/07/2026

Sneak peek at the 2026 MSME Friendly States Index 👀
Ranked all 36 states + FCT on how they're actually supporting small businesses.
Full report: www.msmeindex.org

30/06/2026

A NEW ERA OF MSME ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS!

At the United Nations MSMEs Day Celebration organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the MSME Friendly States Index (MFSI) and the 2026 Top 10 MSME Friendly States in Nigeria were officially unveiled.

The MSME Friendly States Index is Nigeria's first evidence-based subnational benchmarking framework that assesses all 36 States and the FCT using the Policy–Funding–Programs (PFP) Framework, measuring how governments create enabling environments for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Based on their scores, every state and the FCT were ranked and classified into four performance tiers, providing an objective picture of MSME ecosystem performance across the country.

The MSME Friendly States Index is an initiative of the Centre for Strategic Enterprise Development (CSED) with support from the European Cultural Centre (ECC), while SMEDAN serves as the institutional anchor of the initiative.

Some important insights from the report:
• The assessment reveals that states have different areas of strength across the Policy, Funding, and Programmes pillars, presenting valuable opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, and the adoption of proven approaches that can strengthen MSME ecosystems nationwide.
• The Index also demonstrates that a balanced investment in sound policies, sustainable funding mechanisms, and well-executed MSME programmes delivers stronger outcomes for entrepreneurs and enterprise growth.

What's next?

Following the unveiling, the next phase of the initiative is a series of Diagnostic Workshops with State Governments to jointly review each state's performance and co-create practical, evidence-based solutions for the pillars and sub-indicators where improvements are needed. The objective is not just to rank states, but to support continuous improvement and build more MSME-friendly economies across Nigeria.

Download the full 2026 MSME Friendly States Index Report today at www.msmeindex.org and discover where your state ranks.

23/06/2026

Build Real Connections in Abuja. Unlock Global Opportunities.

The Abuja Business Community powered by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) and the Centre for Strategic Enterprise Development (CSED) — is where ambitious entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and changemakers meet to collaborate and grow.

Gain access to strategic relationships, business opportunities, expert insights, exclusive events, and an ecosystem built to help you win locally and globally.

Membership is FREE.

Become a member today at community.csed.org.ng

21/05/2026

The FCT Startup Challenge for Schools is officially launched. 21 schools. 87 participants. Prototypes that will be commercialized. An international exchange programme for winners. This is just the beginning. Stay with us. 🚀

20/05/2026

Abuja Just Told Its Students: You Are the Next Wave.

Last Thursday, the Center for Strategic Enterprise Development (CSED) made history at start studio innovation hub, Maitama — officially unveiling the FCT Startup challenge for schools.
The event brought together 87 participants from 21 schools across the FCT — principals, vice principals, and ICT managers — alongside the Director of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, the European Cultural Centre, the Universal Basic Education Board, the Secondary Education Board, and representatives from private schools.

Dr. Olobashola Kolawole, Director of DSTI, opened with a charge that set the tone:

"Innovation has no limits — not by age, not by background."

Ambassador Onuoha , the Director, International Corporation Nigeria/Sahara Africa of the European Cultural Centre reinforced CSED's growing international partnerships and their readiness to mobilize global resources for the commercialization of the schools prototypes through the unveiled program while our CEO, Mr. ID Freeman, mapped out the FCT innovation ecosystem using the Triple Helix Framework and showing how to empower young people within FCT to participate in growing the FCT economy to N1.3trillion worth of economic activities.
This is a structural shift — reaching students early, before the world convinces them that entrepreneurship belongs to someone else.
The next generation of FCT innovators just got their starting line.

Start studio innovation hub will be commercializing prototypes litreed around labs in secondary and universities through the FCT Startup challenge for schools. The Applications process will open soon for all the schools in FCT to submit their prototypes. The winning Prototypes will be commercialized and the researches and innovators behind them will be engaged in an international exchange program outside Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Educational Secretariate.

Keep tab with us on this page for more details on FCT Startup challenge for schools.

Get ready 🚀

07/05/2026

📢 INNOVATORS, APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR iHATCH COHORT 5.

The launchpad is ready. The programme is live. And Start Studio Innovation Hub is your official gateway to iHatch in the FCT.

As the official FCT Implementing Partner of iHatch — the flagship startup incubation programme of NITDA, implemented by ONDI in partnership with JICA — we are bringing this world-class opportunity directly to Abuja's most ambitious founders.

Apply now: https://ondi.nitda.gov.ng/ #/ihatch
Or scan the QR code

⏳ Don't sleep on this — spots are limited!

👇 Tag a startup founder in Abuja who needs to see this RIGHT NOW.

07/05/2026

📢APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!!

Got an idea you can’t ignore?

iHatch is built for founders at the idea to MVP stage, helping you move from just thinking to actually building.

No fluff. Just the structure, guidance, and support to turn your idea into something real.

If you’re serious about building, this is your starting point.

Applications are now open.
Apply now: https://ondi.nitda.gov.ng/ #/ihatch
Or scan the QR code.

06/05/2026

CSED x ECC Partnership: A Strategic Boost for Nigeria’s Creative & Enterprise Economy

On 4th May 2026, the Centre for Strategic Enterprise Development (CSED) and the European Cultural Centre (ECC) Nigeria/Sub-Saharan Africa signed an MoU in Abuja, marking a significant step toward linking enterprise growth with cultural innovation.

The agreement was signed at ECC’s Abuja office by Mr. Izu Divine Freeman (ID. Freeman), CEO of CSED, and Amb. Sunny Victor Onuoha, Head/Director of International Cooperation for ECC Nigeria/Sub-Saharan Africa, in the presence of Prof. Ajibade Abiodun Michael.

This partnership aligns CSED’s mandate of building sustainable enterprise ecosystems with ECC’s role in connecting Africa’s creative sector to global platforms—creating new pathways for economic growth.

By combining CSED’s enterprise systems approach with ECC’s international network, the MoU creates a powerful platform to:

1. Unlock new economic opportunities within the creative and cultural industries
2. Strengthen the capacity of MSMEs to scale sustainably
3. Position Nigerian entrepreneurs and creatives for global competitiveness
4. Facilitate knowledge exchange, market access, and cross-continental partnerships

Through jointly developed programmes, Nigerian and African stakeholders can expect:

1. Entrepreneurs, Startups & MSMEs: Access to structured capacity-building programmes, improved business systems, and potential pathways to international markets and partnerships
2. Youth: Skills development, exposure to global opportunities, and support to transform ideas into viable enterprises
3. Creative Sector Players: Stronger integration of culture and commerce, enabling creatives to build sustainable businesses around their work
4. Indigenous Communities: Opportunities to preserve, commercialize, and globally showcase indigenous knowledge, art, and cultural assets in ways that create economic value

Speaking on the partnership, Amb. Sunny Onuoha emphasized its practical impact:

“This partnership establishes a practical framework to support Nigerian youth, indigenous people and SMEs through targeted training and capacity building. Our focus is on equipping them with the skills and systems to build sustainable enterprises.”

As Nigeria continues to explore pathways for inclusive economic growth, collaborations like this demonstrate what is possible when enterprise development meets innovation.

CSED remains committed to building resilient enterprise ecosystems across Africa, while ECC continues to strengthen the bridge between Sub-Saharan Africa and global institutions.

Details of upcoming joint programmes will be announced soon.

Benedict Umunnakwe
Head of Partnership & Engagement, Center for Strategic Enterprise Development