Enugu: Building Systems That Work
In 2019, I was appointed Special Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on SME Development and Investment Promotion, and made Director General of the Enugu SME Center.
Enugu State Government
In 2019, I was appointed Special Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on SME Development and Investment Promotion, and made Director General of the Enugu SME Center.
It was time to test everything I had learned—this time, on a bigger stage.
One of my proudest achievements is the Human Capital Development Loan (HCDL®)—a zero-interest program that funds training, skills acquisition, and job placement. Over ₦250 million disbursed, 7,000+ jobs created, and an 85% recovery rate. That’s not theory. That’s system design with impact.
Relevant Transaction Experience
- Created an implemented the Enugu Human Capital Development Loans® (HCDL) an innovative zero interest loan program that is used solely for skill acquisition, trainings (technical and vocational) with private sector anchors with access to jobs and entrepreneurial support upon completion of the training. Since inception of this Program in November 2019, we have created over 7,000 jobs (direct and indirect), disbursing over N250 Million in HCDL Loans with an 85% recovery rate
- Partnered with Jobberman Nigeria to create the Enugu Jobs Portal (www.enugu-jobs.com) that matches job seekers with employers and trainers with mandatory soft/employability skills training and option technical training (option request from employer). Job seekers can access the Human Capital Development Loan to make this payment
- Under the Enugu Learning ® Initiative- Commenced the Enugu Skill Acquisition Masterclass Program to provide quality capacity development skills to jobseekers, entrepreneurs, MSMEs and the like in the State. Since inception, we have trained over 35,000 (in-person and virtual)
- Focal Person for Enugu State under the novel Federal Government- MSME Survival Fund, a component of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) for N75 Billion support of r vulnerable MSMEs to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Implemented the 1st Enugu SME Hackathon that targets tech-inclined and non tech-inclined creative thinkers to develop sustainable platforms, products and ventures that cement Enugu State as a hub for innovation. Winner receives a N1.5Million Business Support Grant
- Commenced the Enugu Human Capital Development Loan Program- a loan for jobs scheme which guarantees job placement after capacity development training. This initiative targets to create a minimum of 20,000 jobs yearly
- Developed and implemented the N500 Million Enugu State Government and Bank of Industry (BoI) Matching Funding Program
- Recovered over N950 Million (US$2.6Mn) within the first three (3) months upon appointment from indebted beneficiaries under the N2 Billion Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Development Loan Program (MSMEDF) that commenced in 2014 and ended in 2019 with only N389 Million (US$1.08 Million) recovered within the same period
- Developed and implemented MSME Funding Partnerships with FinTech companies such as Carbon, VBank, LIdya amongst others under the Enugu Business Support Loan Program
