As a complement to its microfinance policy and also to ensure the sustained supply of skilled entrepreneurs to take advantages available to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] in 2006 initiated plans to support the efforts of the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Industrial Training Fund (ITF) etc by establishing or strengthening one Entrepreneurship Development Centre [EDC] in each of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

It placed advertisements in the Nigerian dailies of 11th to 13th September, 2006, calling for bidders that would be supported to foster private sector led, commercially oriented and sustainable entrepreneurship development programmes in the zones by establishing viable entrepreneurship development centres.

This is to encourage private entrepreneurship, self employment, job creations, income growth, poverty eradication and economic development.

The EDCs that would target those with at least secondary education has the following specific objectives:

• To develop entrepreneurship spirit amongst Nigerians and provide insight into the tools, techniques and framework for managing all functional areas of business enterprise, including production, marketing, personnel and finance.
• To develop skills of would-be-entrepreneurs to successfully start, expand, diversify and manage business enterprises as well as link them with financial institutions for start-up capital, especially the microfinance banks.
• To generate employment opportunities for Nigerians in pursuance of the provisions of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy [NEEDS] and recently vision 2020.
• To raise a new class of entrepreneurs/owners, who can compete globally and succeed in managing MSMEs and provide the bridge for future industrialization of the country.

List of CBN Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Nigeria

Below is the list of CBN EDC Centres in Nigeria and their addresses :

CBN-EDC, Ibadan (South West)
Website: www.edcsouthwest.org
Address: Old SDSTC (Oyo Oodua Skill Acquisition Centre Premises),
Samonda, along Sango-UI Road,
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

CBN-EDC, PortHarcourt (South South)
Website: www.ssedc.org
30 Trans-Woji road, Grace plaza, by Slaughter Bridge Woji Town,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State

CBN-EDC, Maiduguri (North East)
website : edcnortheast.com.ng
Address: Old Informatics Institute, Njimtillo, Kano Road,
Maiduguri, Borno State

CBN-EDC, Kano (North West)
Address: Murtala Muhammed Library Complex,
Kano, Kano State

CBN-EDC, Makurdi (North Central)
Off Jonah Jang Crescent,
Near Federal Secretariat,
Makurdi, Benue State.

CBN-EDC, Minna (North Central)
Address: Minna Innovation Institute,
Behind Niger State Sharia Commission,
Justice Ndajiwo Drive,
Minna, Niger State.

CBN-EDC, Enugu (South East)
Address: Ebenezer Villa Suite
8, Ogenyi Close, Off Cornerstone Avenue
Off Nike Lake Resort Road,
Enugu, Enugu State.

Centre for Entrepreneurial Development
website : www.cedl.org
36, Murtala Mohammed International
Airport Road, Lagos.