Stakeholders from the Enterprise Development Centre, Keystone Bank, MasterCard Foundation, and Tripoint Academy have urged small and medium enterprises in Nigeria to focus on sustainable and impact-driven entrepreneurial growth to strengthen the country’s business ecosystem.
They made the call during the 2025 EDC SME Conference held recently in Lagos with the theme, “Catalysing the Future: Empowering Small Businesses for Impact and Inclusive Growth.”
Speaking at the event, the Director of EDC, Nneka Okekearu, said the conference focused on issues such as compliance, exports, and tax regulations, while providing a platform for entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and collaborate. She stressed that EDC remains committed to supporting inclusive and sustainable business development across the country.
Okekearu commended Tripoint Academy for empowering over 30,000 women in the past 10 years and noted that EDC’s partnership with the academy aligns with Keystone Bank’s drive to promote inclusive growth and entrepreneurship among women.
In her keynote address, the Country Director of MasterCard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, lauded EDC for its 18 years of consistent impact on SMEs across Nigeria. She described small businesses as the engine of the economy, though often challenged by limited access to finance, markets, and digital tools.
Fynn noted that the foundation’s collaboration with EDC is aimed at addressing these challenges through targeted programmes that equip entrepreneurs with skills and resources for long-term success. She added that the year 2026 should prioritise collaboration over competition among entrepreneurs.
“Having that hope, resilience, and the right mindset is a key part of ensuring that 2026 becomes a successful year for many SMEs,” Fynn said.
Also speaking, Keystone Bank’s Executive Director, Nnenna Okoro, emphasised the bank’s commitment to SME growth, describing small businesses as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. She announced the bank’s plan to increase the frequency of its SME clinic initiative, which provides insights and thought leadership to help entrepreneurs thrive beyond financial support.
On her part, the Founder of Tripoint Travels Academy and representative of northern entrepreneurs, Shuhda Muhammad, applauded the organisers and reaffirmed the academy’s dedication to empowering business owners in northern Nigeria. She revealed that over 11,000 entrepreneurs, 80 per cent of whom are women, have benefitted from the initiative, which seeks to promote financial independence and mindset transformation.
Muhammad described the programme as an enabler that helps women overcome barriers, expand market access, and showcase their products and services.
