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FirstBank Hosts SME Clinic, Reiterates its Commitment to Building Capacity of SMEs
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to driving growth and building the capacity of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
Speaking at the FirstBank SMEConnect Business Clinic, held in Lagos on Thursday, the Group Head, Lagos Island 1, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olufunke Smith stated that the business clinic provides an opportunity for SMEs to understand how to develop their business plans, and run their business. It is one of the key initiatives that the bank has put in place to drive development of the SMEs. She further noted that the Bank’s SMEs proposition is based on seven pillars that would connect SMEs to- capacity building, market, infrastructure, talent for business development, policy and regulation, finance and resources.
According to her, “Building the capacities of SMEs is an ongoing process. SMEs are the engine of growth of any society. At FirstBank it is our responsibility to bring them on-board through support, knowledge sharing, and advisory in order for them to add value to the society. The SMEs attending the clinics today have gone through a selection process and it is the first of 2020, there will be more clinics to be held in the course of the year.
“SMEs are the bedrock of economic growth of any society. It is when you have functional SMEs that the country can grow. It is noteworthy to mention here that SMEs are great employers of labour. When you have viable SMEs they provide various services and innovations that traditional corporations may not provide. These strongly underscore our commitment – at FirstBank – to strengthening their impact on the economy.
“This clinic is part of giving back to the society, thereby ensuring we continue to develop SMEs. FirstBank has recognised that for it to serve SMEs adequately there is a need to offer more than traditional banking services. We know that connecting SMEs to the right information and business tools can save turnaround time, cost and give them a competitive edge in the sector that they operate. It is on this knowledge that we have created value propositions for SMEs that cover financial and non-financial services.”
We expose SMEs to the best deals and they have access to tools that position them at an advantage for growth.”
In his remarks, the Managing Partner, Traction, Dolapo Adejuyigbe, said “we have a coaching marketplace that SMEs can come on our platform and even firstbank platform to book vetted coaches that can provide advisory services to them either for one session or a number of sessions. We also consider re-emerging how our business clinics can work and how to bring insights and make it practical. The FirstBank business diagnostic tool enables SMEs identify the needs, especially operational, of their business and the business clinic is designed in such a way we can follow up on the impacts and also track the business after three to six months. The focus of this business clinic is to help them design the strategy for 2020. A core part of that is for them to understand the economic trends, and we have catered for different kinds of businesses and how the economy is going to impact them.”
In his remarks, one of the speakers at the event, Gospel Obele, said the clinic provided an opportunity to develop a business and market outlook for SMEs, stating that the goal was to scale economic knowledge into useable insights for SMEs.
Commending FirstBank on the SME Clinic, Obele noted that the event exposed SMEs to lots of opportunities for their business growth like how the Nigerian business environment is going to look like through the year as well as the transition dynamics of the consumer.”
He said: “Examining strategy from the outlook that was presented today, it is more of how SMEs rework their internal systems to respond to the changing environment that we have. Nigeria is a high fluid and dynamic economy which means that our own business environment is changing faster than advanced economies”
One of the participants at the clinic, Tayo Oginni, President/CEO, International Energy Market Place Ltd., said attending the seminar provided background knowledge on how to develop a road map for setting up a business in a structured manner.
He asserted that the business clinic taught SMEs the things to be aware of when starting a business, “the facilitator created an atmosphere of things that need to be done. I will strongly recommend that SMEs need this kind of intervention.”
Ogini also lauded FirstBank and Traction for organising the clinic, noting that one of the key areas discussed at the clinic was financing where SMEs were taught that cash flow is key in business, therefore they have to watch their cash flow.
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ZenithBankPlcreaffirmeditscommitmenttoadvancingtrade,investmentandeconomiccooperationbetweenCanadaandAfricaastheHeadlineConferenceSponsorofthe6thCanada-AfricaBusinessConference, held on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.OrganisedbytheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,theconferencebroughttogetherahigh-levelCanadian business delegation representing 31 companies, alongside senior government officials, businessleaders, investors, policymakers, diplomats and development partners. The gathering set out to strengthencommercial relations between Canada and Africa and to position Nigeria as a strategic gateway for Canadianbusinesses seeking opportunities across the continent.The Canadian delegation comprised companies and institutions operating across financial services, security,mining andcritical minerals,legal andprofessional services, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, educationand clean energy. Among those present were GardaWorld, Dentons, Baywood Group, Element, Trilliant andother leading Canadian enterprises exploring commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships in Nigeria.The Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti, who delivered the keynote address on behalfof the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the conference as a timelyplatform for deepening commercial partnerships between Canada and Africa amid shifting global economicrealities. He underscored Africa’s readiness to lead the next phase of global economic growth, stressing thatthecontinent now possessestheinstitutions,policy frameworks andpartnershipsrequiredtoturn its immensepotential into shared prosperity.“The question is not whether Africa is rich in potential. It is whether we can turn that potential into prosperityour people can feel. For the first time, the answer is yes, because of the machinery we are now building,” hesaid.RepresentingtheGovernorofLagosState,HisExcellencyMr.BabajideSanwo-Olu,thePermanentSecretary, Ministryof Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade andInvestment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo,reaffirmedthe State Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investment and internationalpartnerships, and highlighted Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and gateway to African markets.“Canada bringstothe tableconsiderable expertise,capital, innovation,and astrong traditionof institutionbuilding.Africa,andindeedLagos,offerscale.Weoffertalent,creativity,marketopportunitiesandanincreasingly sophisticated business environment. Together, these strengths create a compelling foundationfor transformative partnership,” he said.Speaking at the event, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, notedthattheconferencereflectsthegrowingmomentuminbilateralcommercialcollaborationbetweenbothcountries. He said: “The relationship between Canada and Nigeria is not new. It is rooted in diplomacy, trade,education,culture,migration,andshareddemocraticvalues.Buttoday,Ibelieveweareenteringanewchapter: one that is more ambitious, more practical, and more human.”
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TheChairoftheBoardoftheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,PaulaCaldwellSt-Onge,highlightedNigeria’sgrowing economic significance,saying: “Nigeria’s growth isnot theoretical.It is alreadybeing built byNigerian entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, innovators and companies whose ambition reachesacross Africa and around the world.”She also acknowledged Zenith Bank’s role in advancing the conference’s objectives, stating: “Zenith Bank isnot only oneof Africa’s leadingfinancial institutions, it isthe capital behindwhat you seehere today, and itrepresents the skill, ambition, discipline, innovation and excellence that this conference seeks to showcase.”Theconferencefeaturedhigh-levelpaneldiscussionsonCanada-Africacommercialrelations,investmentopportunitiesacrossprioritysectors,andtheimplementationoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade Area(AfCFTA). The sessions brought together policymakers, business executives and industry experts to identifypracticalpathwaysforstrengtheningcommercialpartnershipsandacceleratingsustainableeconomicdevelopment.The conference is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for Canadian investment,while opening new opportunities for technology transfer, private sector collaboration, job creation and long-termeconomicgrowth.ItalsoreinforcesNigeria’spositionasastrategichubforbusinessesseekingtoaccess opportunities across Africa under the AfCFTA, supporting the country’s ambition to expand its role inregional and global trade.
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HabariPay Launches Maiden “HabariPay Impact Report 2025”, Showcasing Its Journey, Business Evolution, and Contributions to Digital Payments
HabariPay Limited, the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”), has unveiled its maiden HabariPay Impact Report 2025, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive account of the company’s evolution, innovation journey, business performance, and impact on the digital payments landscape.The report captures HabariPay’s transformation from a newly established fintech venture into one of Nigeria’s leading payment infrastructure providers, highlighting the milestones, strategic decisions, and investments that have shaped its growth. It showcases the company’s contributions to enabling digital commerce, supporting businesses, strengthening payment infrastructure, and expanding financial access through technology-driven solutions.The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 also highlights the company’s strong financial and operational performance, the growth of the Squad platform, and the development of infrastructure that powers payment acceptance, switching, transfers, merchant services, and value-added solutions. The publication further explores the role of innovation, talent development, and ecosystem partnerships in driving the company’s success.Speaking on the launch of the report, the Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduofon Japhet, said: “As a technology-driven company, we believe that impact extends beyond financial performance. It is reflected in the businesses we enable, the merchants we support, the infrastructure we build, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of innovators. The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 captures this journey and demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and the broader economy.”She further added: “The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 represents more than a reflection on our achievements; it is a testament to the deliberate investments we have made in building sustainable payment infrastructure, empowering businesses, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our capabilities, deepening our impact, and shaping the future of digital payments through technology-driven solutions that are secure, scalable, and inclusive.”The report also showcases HabariPay’s investments in innovation through initiatives such as the Take on Squad Hackathon and the Squad Hackademy, both of which are helping to develop future technology talent and accelerate the creation of practical solutions to real-world challenges.Looking ahead, the publication outlines HabariPay’s vision for the future, including continued investment in payment infrastructure, merchant solutions, digital innovation, and intelligent technologies that will shape the future of financial services.
To access the HabariPay Impact Report 2025, please click the below: https://squadco.com/impact-report/About HabariPayHabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations, and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
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