The founder and convener of the Small-Scale Enterprises Lab (SSE Lab), Mrs Desola Jimmy-Eboma, has emphasised that the way forward for Nigeria’s financial system relies upon largely on the creativity and resilience of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) throughout the nation.
Jimmy-Eboma acknowledged this on the MBA Enterprise Bathe: Cohort 2 Commencement and Enterprise Showcase held in Lagos, with the theme ‘Innovation, Inclusion, Affect: Redefining MSMEs in Nigeria’s Financial system’.
SSE Lab is a enterprise growth and empowerment platform created to nurture and develop micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) throughout Africa. The Lab helps entrepreneurs from thought discovery to full enterprise execution and scaling, with a robust give attention to practicality, sustainability, and construction.
She famous that empowering small enterprise homeowners not solely fuels their entrepreneurial desires but in addition builds the muse of sustainable prosperity for generations to return.
“At the moment, we rejoice not simply the commencement of entrepreneurs however the start of recent enterprises that can form industries, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s financial progress,” she mentioned.
Jimmy-Eboma defined that the Manufacturing Enterprise Accelerator (MBA) programme was designed with a singular mission to equip small-scale entrepreneurs with the data, instruments, and mentorship wanted to rework concepts and facet hustles into scalable, sustainable ventures.
“In simply ninety days, our members’ journey by a strategy of discovery, validation, and execution, rising with merchandise prepared for market and companies able to thrive,” she added.
She identified that “the Enterprise Showers are greater than a commencement ceremony; they’re a Launchpad, a spot the place innovation meets alternative, the place braveness meets recognition, and the place small beginnings are fuelled into nice enterprises.”
She additional referred to as for constant help for small enterprise homeowners to allow them to develop into sustainable success tales that may resonate inside and past the nation.
Jimmy-Eboma reiterated that the expansion and resilience of Nigeria’s small companies stay essential to the nation’s nationwide financial transformation.
The director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Improvement Company of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Charles Odii, recommended the initiative and described it as a well timed effort to drive the expansion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the nation.
Odii who was represented by the Company’s South-West Coordinator, Olukayode Shode, mentioned the financial system wants extra concepts and platforms that can promote innovation and sustainability amongst small companies.
He famous that growing the MSME sector requires a collective dedication from authorities, people and company our bodies.
“We should transcend mere phrases and transfer to motion in growing the MSME ecosystem. The extra we put our arms on deck, the extra we will obtain for MSMEs in Nigeria,” he added.
The pinnacle of retail and SME banking at NOVA Financial institution, Esther Obiekwe, mentioned Nigeria’s financial resilience lies not in oil, however in entrepreneurial range.
In response to Obiekwe, each time an MSME scales, exports a product, or substitutes an import, Nigeria takes a step towards self-sufficiency.
She argued that each MSME empowered represents jobs created, households sustained, and communities reworked, saying, “Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises signify over 90 per cent of companies, 80 of employment, and contribute almost half of our GDP.”
