SMEDAN Empowers nMSMEs With Packaging And Branding Skills Training To Harness AfCFTA Opportunities

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has commenced a transformative training program in Lagos State, aimed at equipping nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises (nMSMEs) with cutting-edge skills in packaging and branding to unlock the vast opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The ongoing training is part of SMEDAN’s strategic initiatives to build the capacity of Nigerian enterprises, ensuring they are well-positioned to take advantage of AfCFTA’s promise of a single African market with over 1.3 billion consumers.

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Tunde Oloyede emphasized the critical role of packaging and branding in creating competitive and export-ready products.

“We are not just training for local excellence — we are preparing Nigerian nMSMEs to become continental brands,” Mr. Oloyede said. “With the right packaging and branding strategies, our products can compete favorably across African markets and beyond.”

Raising the Bar for Product Competitiveness

The Lagos training covers practical modules on modern packaging techniques, brand identity development, regulatory compliance, and market positioning. Participants include entrepreneurs, startups, cooperatives, and business support organizations from across various sectors including agribusiness, cosmetics, food processing, textiles, and more.

The initiative aims to address longstanding challenges faced by Nigerian products in regional markets, such as poor presentation, weak brand visibility, and non-compliance with international trade standards.

The training featured expert-led presentations, live product audits, case studies of successful African brands, and hands-on design labs. Key topics include:

 

Designing packaging that meets AfCFTA export requirements

Building culturally resonant and globally appealing brand identities

Leveraging e-commerce platforms with effective visual branding

Cost-effective sustainable packaging options

Scaling the Impact Nationwide

Following the Lagos edition, SMEDAN has announced plans to replicate the training in the northern region of Nigeria in the coming weeks, further demonstrating the agency’s commitment to inclusive enterprise development across all geopolitical zones.

The training aligns with Nigeria’s broader trade facilitation strategies under the AfCFTA framework and supports SMEDAN’s mandate to stimulate, monitor, and coordinate the development of the MSME sector.