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In a decisive move to enhance transparency, accountability, and impact in Nigeria’s social investment ecosystem, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), under the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has embarked on a strategic partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The National Programme Manager of GEEP, Mr. Hamza Baba, led the initiative during courtesy visits to the Director-General of NIMC, Engineer Abisoye Coker, and the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr. Charles Odii, in Abuja. The meetings focused on developing integrated systems and joint programmes that would strengthen beneficiary identification, capacity building, and digital transformation for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as smallholder farmers across the country.

During his visit to NIMC, Mr. Baba highlighted the importance of a credible and verifiable beneficiary database for the effective delivery of GEEP 3.0. He noted that the collaboration aims to ensure that market women, traders, artisans, and smallholder farmers—the core target groups of the programme—are properly registered and verified through a secure national identity framework. He further explained that GEEP plans to categorize beneficiaries by occupation to enable targeted support and seamless monitoring of impact across communities.

Engineer Abisoye Coker, the NIMC Director-General, welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to providing full technical and operational support. She assured that NIMC’s extensive national infrastructure and field operatives would be leveraged to assist GEEP enumerators and desk officers during the registration and verification process. According to her, the collaboration will ensure that every GEEP beneficiary has a valid National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN), a measure designed to eliminate duplication, improve transparency, and guarantee that only verified individuals benefit from government interventions.

“This partnership is an important step toward achieving a unified, transparent, and accountable system for delivering social investments in Nigeria,” Engineer Coker stated. “It aligns with our mission to ensure every citizen’s identity is securely captured and integrated into the national development process.”

Similarly, in his meeting with Dr. Charles Odii of SMEDAN, Mr. Baba emphasized the need for synergy between both agencies to enhance entrepreneurship and strengthen the MSME ecosystem. Discussions between GEEP and SMEDAN centered on developing collaborative frameworks for capacity building, financial literacy, and digital transformation support for micro and small businesses under the GEEP 3.0 scheme.

Both agencies agreed on the importance of expanding access to financial literacy and business management training to help entrepreneurs make informed decisions and sustain their businesses. They also discussed extending SMEDAN’s partnerships with digital platforms to GEEP beneficiaries, enabling them to improve record keeping, expense tracking, and payroll management.

Dr. Odii noted that combining SMEDAN’s technical expertise and extensive market networks with GEEP’s financial empowerment initiatives would significantly amplify impact, particularly in rural and underserved communities. He also pointed out that aligning SMEDAN’s Agric Business Development and Empowerment Programme with GEEP’s FarmerMoni initiative would create a unified approach to supporting smallholder farmers through technical assistance, market access, and financial inclusion.

According to him, “The collaboration between SMEDAN and GEEP represents a holistic approach to strengthening Nigeria’s MSME sector. By integrating financial empowerment with digital and managerial capacity, we are setting the stage for more resilient small businesses and stronger local economies.”

At the end of the engagements, the three agencies agreed to develop a joint framework and roadmap for implementation, beginning with a harmonized beneficiary registration and verification process. The partnership will also roll out coordinated training and digital support initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and long-term sustainability of the GEEP 3.0 programme.

The initiative is in line with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to promoting inclusive growth, financial inclusion, and rural economic development through innovative and transparent social investment programmes.

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