MTN Nigeria and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have formed a major alliance designed to turbocharge the growth and digital capabilities of Nigeria’s approximately 40 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This move is seen as a vital step for the national economy, given the substantial role MSMEs play in job creation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, Ayham Moussa, stressed the economic significance of the country’s vast small business sector.
“SMEs are the backbone of the economy and the backbone of employment in Nigeria,” Mr Moussa stated. He confirmed MTN’s delight in powering SMEDAN’s platform, which will provide crucial tools to help MSMEs connect with customers, secure funding, and reach broader markets. “This collaboration serves both our business and social development objectives,” he added.
The partnership arrives at a time when strengthening the MSME sector is critical for Nigeria’s economic stability and growth. Research consistently shows that MSMEs contribute a significant percentage to the national GDP and employ a vast majority of the workforce, making their vitality essential for poverty reduction and economic diversification away from traditional sectors. Providing digital tools and access to finance directly addresses some of the biggest long-standing hurdles faced by these enterprises.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, described the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a practical measure to support businesses exactly when they need it. Acknowledging that businesses of different sizes—nano, micro, small, and medium—have unique requirements, she noted, “Some SMEs need guidance, some need resources; others need opportunities or workforce support. This platform allows them to access whatever they need.”
The platform will feature joint initiatives focusing on crucial areas such as digital and financial inclusion, capacity building, and providing verified, accurate information.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr Charles Odii, highlighted the necessity of partnering with the private sector to achieve the agency’s mandate for nationwide enterprise modernisation. “We have approximately 40 million MSMEs in Nigeria, and only about four hundred SMEDAN staff. We cannot fulfil our mandate without technology, data, and strong partners,” Dr Odii explained. He expressed confidence that MTN’s existing infrastructure, from payments to digital learning, would enable SMEDAN to achieve in a short period what would have otherwise taken many years.
Dr Odii also pointed out that his administration has already overseen the creation of over one hundred thousand jobs in two years, and this partnership is expected to significantly accelerate job creation and business expansion across the nation.
