Dr. Stephen Odo, Director-General, Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA) and State Focal Person for Ease of Doing Business Council.
By Victor Nwegede
The Ebonyi State Government has rolled out a comprehensive package of reforms and incentives designed to make the state one of Nigeria’s most attractive hubs for investment and enterprise growth.
Dr. Stephen Odo, Director-General of the Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA) and State Focal Person for the Ease of Doing Business Council, disclosed this in Abakaliki while outlining Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration’s efforts to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and court both local and foreign investors.
Established in July 2023 as the first law signed by Governor Francis Nwifuru, SMEDA’s mandate, according to Odo, is to “encourage enterprise growth, support businesses, and ensure the MSME sector enjoys positive influence from government to survive and thrive.”
The Ease of Doing Business Council, chaired by the Deputy Governor, collaborates closely with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to address challenges ranging from regulatory delays to infrastructure gaps.
Membership draws from key commissioners and agency heads responsible for finance, commerce, ICT, and justice.
Among the notable reforms by the agency for the past two years were eight executive orders covering public-private partnerships, investment promotion, grievance redress, and responsible land-intensive agriculture, and establishment of Small Claims Courts in Afikpo, Onueke, and Abakaliki to expedite debt disputes of up to ₦10 million without the need for legal representation, with cases resolved within three months.
Other reforms included amendment of revenue laws to make taxation more transparent and business-friendly, a N1 billion MSME loan facility with the Bank of Industry, complemented by World Bank-supported grants and targeted financial aid to thousands of small businesses, and free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration and export licenses for qualified enterprises to boost export-oriented production.
Odo also highlighted the state’s Industriosity programme, aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty by providing skills training and startup funding.
Initiatives like “From Street to Shop” have seen 500 beneficiaries each receive N2 million to transition into formal business, while Ebonyians have been sponsored for agricultural training in Enugu with post-training financial support.
Climbing the National Ranking
Currently ranked 23rd on Nigeria’s ease of doing business index, Ebonyi aims to break into the top tier by sustaining its reform agenda, improving infrastructure, and reinforcing investor security.
“Ebonyi remains one of the safest states in the Southeast.
"Investors can operate here without fear. You can drive around at any hour without harassment or kidnapping, and that safety record is a strong selling point," Odoh said.
With the reforms gaining momentum, he said the state government remained focus to remove red tape, boost investor confidence, and transform Ebonyi into a magnet for economic growth.
