President Buhari Appoints Fasanya As Director General Of SMEDAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr Olawale Tunde Fasanya as the Director General, Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

A statement by the Deputy Director, Corporate Unit of SMEDAN, Mr. Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed said that Fasanya’s appointment which took effect from June 6, 2022 was contained in a letter dated June 23, 2022 and signed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

The new Director General is a seasoned technocrat and a certified Business Development Advisor with a proven track record of landmark accomplishments of 35 years in the MSME ecosystem in Nigeria.

Born on June 3, 1962, Fasanya, who hails from Ola Ejigbo, Osun State, is expected to bring to bear his wealth of experience on his new national assignment.

Fasanya is a holder of the West African School Certificate, Bachelor of Arts (English and Literary Studies) from the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife in 1985, Advanced Certificate in Public Relations, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba Lagos 1990, Masters in Public Administration, Lagos State University, Lagos 1994, Diploma In Market Oriented Small Business Development Service, International Training Centre of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Turin, Italy in 2008, and presently expecting his PhD in Public Policy Analysis and Management University of America.

Mr Fasanya did his mandatory National Youth Service with the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTC) Jos, where he produced and presented a weekly Radio Programme called Plateau State Roundup between 1985 and 1986 before he started his working career in a publishing firm, Jator Publishing Company, Ibadan, Oyo State as Deputy Editor/Administrative officer.

He later switched into Public Service, joining the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Abuja where he served as Productivity Officer, Senior Productivity Officer, Assistant Chief Public Relations Officer, and Chief Public Relations Officer from August 1998 to June 1999.

Fasanya also served as Personal Assistant to the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence between June 1999 and February 2002 and later Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals between February 2002 and May 2003.

Fasanya was among those that formed the nucleus of pioneer staff of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in 2003 where he served as the Special Assistant to the Pioneer Director General/CEO of the Agency, Mrs Modupe Adelaja and was overseeing all units under the Director General’s Office as Deputy Director and Group Head, Corporate Affairs and later became the acting Director General of SMEDAN from July to December 2008 among other positions he has held