In Abuja, he is affectionately called “Mr. SMEDAN”. Mr. Olawale Tunde Fasanya is a veteran of the Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). He has played an active role since its inception. He joined the
agency when it was founded in 2003, rising through the ranks
gradually and steadily until President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the Director General in June 2022.
Before his elevation to the apex position in the organisation, Fasanya had been the Acting DG of SMEDAN since April 18, 2022, when he took over from the previous DG, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, who resigned his appointment to contest as the governor of Katsina State.
Born on June 3, 1962, in Ogbomosho, Osun State, Fasanya obtained
the Bachelor of Arts degree (English and Literary Studies) from the University Ife in 1985, an Advanced Certificate in Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba, Lagos in 1990, and Master in Public Administration from Lagos State University in 1994. He also obtained a Diploma in Market Oriented Small Business Development Service from the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Turin, Italy in 2008. He is currently studying for his Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis and Management at the University of America.
Mr. Fasanya served Nigeria under the NYSC scheme at the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTC) Jos, where he produced and presented a weekly Radio programme called Plateau State Roundup between 1985 and June 1986.
He started his career at a publishing firm, Jator Publishing Company, Ibadan, Oyo State, as Deputy Editor/Administrative officer. From there, he joined 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.
He also served as Personal Assistant to the Minister of State, Ministry
of Defence between June 1999 and February 2002, and as Special
Assistant to the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals from February 2002
to May 2003.
Fasanya was among the pioneer staff of the Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in 2003 where he served as a Special Assistant to the pioneer Director General/CEO of the Agency, Mrs. Modupe Adelaja. He was overseeing all the units under the Director General’s Office as Deputy Director and Group Head, Corporate Affairs.
An accomplished media and corporate communications professional, and a distinguished career civil servant, Fasanya has over the years left his mark in promoting the cause of micro and small businesses, making the most of the platform offered by SMEDAN. Among other things, he has been the:
- Project Director for the implementation of the reviewed
National Policy on MSMEs in 2020. - Project Director, First SMEDAN Agency-Wide
2021-2025 Strategic Management Plan. - Project Director, SMEDAN/NBS
National Survey on MSMEs (2021). - Project Director for the review of the
National Policy on MSMEs (2019-2020). - Team Lead, Guaranteed Off-Take
Scheme Project (A component of the National Economic Sustainability
Plan/Survival Fund) 2020 to date. - Head of Secretariat, National Council
on MSMEs (2011 to date). - Project Director, “One Local
Government One Product” Initiative (2010-2015).
Over the years he has served as the leader of the delegation to various SME and related events in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
