Abuja Entrepreneurship Centre Set for Completion in Dec 2027

Mr John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, says the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) will be fully functional and operational by December 2027, upon completion.

Enoh made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of ACE, developed under the flagship of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).

The ACE project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), targeting young entrepreneurs and startups nationwide. The centre is expected to support 500 prospective young entrepreneurs and 400 startups across FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, and AgriTech, while also serving MSMEs across Abuja and surrounding northern cities. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the project's transition from planning and site preparation to physical construction.

"We Are Here to Make Things Happen" — Enoh

Enoh described the project as more than a physical structure, calling it an opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses across Nigeria to thrive without barriers. He said the Federal Government has secured the necessary commitment to see the project through from groundbreaking to completion, expressing optimism that it would contribute significantly to Nigeria's industrial prosperity and broader entrepreneurship ecosystem.

"Government is here to build; we are no longer making a promise, we are here to make things happen," he said. "The centre will provide training, formalisation and investment-readiness support while bringing incubators, investors, financial institutions and entrepreneurs together through an incubation pipeline across sectors and communities. It will also reflect inclusion, with provisions for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and gender considerations, while its interior will showcase Nigerian creativity, visual arts and cultural expression prominently," he said.

Enoh disclosed that the Federal Government is also working on the Nigerian Industrial Cluster Programme, aimed at strengthening industrial clusters nationwide and creating enabling platforms for sustainable business growth. He urged incubators, investors, and entrepreneurs to enrol as founding collaborators in the ACE Incubation Pipeline, stressing that the groundbreaking marks the beginning of a wider ecosystem across the country. He also called on the media to help project the centre globally, describing it as an opportunity for Abuja to claim its place within Nigeria's emerging digital economy.

SMEDAN: Entrepreneurship Push to Extend Beyond States

Dr Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN, said the agency is developing a programme designed to extend entrepreneurship development beyond individual states to reach communities across Nigeria and beyond. He noted that the initiative is supported by the ministry's provision of an institute and polytechnic where entrepreneurship training can be offered alongside national diploma qualifications for beneficiaries nationwide.

Odii said SMEDAN's industrial development centres across several states are being repositioned as productive hubs, with clusters expected to operate from previously underutilised facilities where needed. He disclosed that UNDP had supported the solarisation of the Idu facility, enabling it to operate continuously and attract small businesses — including entrepreneurs from neighbouring countries seeking opportunities and markets.

According to Odii, Nigeria has 39,624 micro, small, and medium enterprises, and the agency is working to reach them through programmes tailored to their varying environments nationwide. He called for increased support for MSMEs, noting that available funding for the sector remains limited compared to the scale of businesses requiring development assistance. He thanked Korea and its development partners for supporting the project, saying Nigerian and Korean small-business owners could build stronger value chains through continued cooperation, investment, and knowledge exchange.

Korean Ambassador: ACE an Investment in Nigeria's Youth

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Yo-an Jeong, described the groundbreaking as an important milestone in the growing partnership between both countries and their shared vision for economic cooperation. He said ACE represents an investment in young people, entrepreneurship, and innovation, adding that Nigeria's youth are drivers of the country's future and require skills, networks, and opportunities to succeed.

Jeong said Korea's own development experience demonstrates the value of investing in education and human potential, noting that educated young people go on to become engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, managers, and skilled workers across various fields. He said Korea's transformation from a recipient of development assistance to a thriving economy should be regarded as an example rather than a prescription for Nigeria.

He expressed hope that entrepreneurs trained at ACE would go on to build successful companies — including businesses capable of becoming major technology enterprises — and develop partnerships with Korean companies in the years ahead. The ambassador described ACE as a platform for innovation, a home for entrepreneurs, a catalyst for enterprise development, and a bridge connecting ideas with investment opportunities.

He said the centre should remain open, inclusive, and sustainable, while creating opportunities for Nigerian and Korean entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and pursue mutually beneficial ventures. Jeong commended SMEDAN, UNDP, KOICA, and other institutions involved in the project, stressing that its long-term success will depend on sustained collaboration among government, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders.