csrreporters 
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) continue to be the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for over 80% of employment and contributing significantly to GDP. Institutions like the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) are playing a critical role in translating policy into action, providing not just finance but capacity-building, knowledge, and strategic partnerships to empower small businesses.
DBN Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, described the bank as “a convener of ideas, a builder of capacity, and a partner in national transformation,” emphasizing that with the right tools, knowledge, and enabling policies, Nigerian MSMEs resilient, creative, and adaptive can thrive and scale effectively.
The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, unveiled new policies to boost the global competitiveness of Nigerian SMEs. These include regulatory reforms to simplify export access, provision of shared infrastructure such as garment hubs, targeted financial and non-financial support for business expansion, and innovative logistics partnerships. He noted that Nigeria’s recognition with the “Best Pavilion” award at the International Africa Trade Fair underscores the importance of sustaining momentum in promoting SMEs globally.
Keynote speaker, Kenyan entrepreneur Flora Mutahi, urged African businesses to adopt scaling as a deliberate strategy to tackle youth unemployment. Highlighting the challenge of 10–12 million youths entering the job market annually with only three to four million formal jobs created, she stressed that entrepreneurial success requires resilience, determination, and an unwavering desire to overcome challenges.
Stakeholders at the lecture including policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development financiers—agreed that the future of Nigeria’s economy is closely linked to the growth and success of its small businesses.
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