Access Bank has launched the maiden edition of its SME Academy, training 100 entrepreneurs on taxation, valuation, finance management, customer service, and business structuring as part of its renewed push to strengthen small businesses across the country.
Speaking during the closing session of the three-day training in Lagos over the weekend, the Group Head of SME Banking at Access Bank Plc, Abiodun Olubitan, said the curriculum was designed around the real challenges faced by SMEs in their early growth stages.
“When we built the curriculum, we looked at the issues SMEs struggle with every day. Valuation is a problem, taxation is another key area, and financial management is too. Those were the major pillars we focused on, and we also delved into customer service so they can build and retain their customer base. We wanted them to understand how to use the data they already have to grow their businesses.” She added that the sessions were highly engaging. “Some classes had to extend beyond time because participants had so many questions. It showed the deep need for knowledge, especially around policies and tax compliance.”
On the new tax policy that recently confused business owners, Olubitan said the bank used the academy to simplify the information. “The most recent tax policy created a lot of panic. We broke it down into manageable parts, how it affects their business, the impact, and how they can align with it. Government policies are improving, but compliance is usually the bigger challenge. That is where we come in.”
She emphasised the bank’s plan to support micro-SMEs operating without formal registration. “A lot of micro-SMEs use their personal accounts to run their businesses. We can see their cash flow. So we created facilities to support them using that cash flow. We grow with them and help them formalise their business over time.”
Participants praised the training as timely, practical, and transformational.
The founder of an agro-processing business, M to M Stores, Mosebola Lawal, said the programme exposed her to crucial tax and business knowledge she previously lacked. “Now I know I have to pay tax for my business and also personal tax. I learnt about VAT, business plans, and the Pro Max tax system. This training will help me structure my business better.”
Another participant, Gbenga Aboye from Grand Made Limited, a logistics company, said the academy offered clarity on issues he had been struggling with. “It has been three days of mind-shifting capacity building. The leadership and customer service classes were powerful, but the tax session was a breakthrough for me. I now know what to do and how to go about it.”
He added that SMEs need “capacity, character and competence” to thrive in the current business environment. While encouraging SMEs to remain resilient, Access Bank described entrepreneurship as “a marathon, not a sprint”, urging business owners to embrace continuous learning.
