Ecobank’s MySME Growth Series to train over 1 million SMEs in Nigeria

Joy Agwunobi

Ecobank Nigeria has launched a new initiative, the MySME Growth Series, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized businesses in the country. The initiative will consist of training sessions for over one million SME operators across Nigeria in 2024.

Osahon Akpata, head of SME and Partnerships at Ecobank Nigeria, announced the programme in Lagos, noting that it aligns with the bank’s commitment to empowering SMEs in various sectors of the economy.

According to Akpata, Ecobank’s goal is to train one million SMEs in Nigeria to boost their capabilities and stimulate economic growth. To achieve this, the bank is launching the MySME Growth Series, a series of virtual boot camps led by experts in their fields. He stressed that SMEs are the engine of growth in Nigeria, contributing nearly 50 per cent of GDP and 90 per cent  of jobs. In line with Ecobank’s commitment to growth, the bank is dedicated to the success of SMEs in various sectors of the economy.

Akpata disclosed further that the MySME Growth webinar series, which has the overall theme of “Scaling Up Your SME in 2024,” will kick off on Thursday, February 1 with a focus on “Growing Your Business Online.” He also stated that Ijeoma Arum, chief commercial officer at Jumia Nigeria, will facilitate the webinar. He stated that the series will continue weekly throughout the year.

Akpata further  noted that the webinar series will address a variety of topics of concern to small businesses, including accounting, credit, sales and marketing, taxation, and inventory management. In addition, Ecobank is planning to launch an SME mentorship programme to connect small businesses with successful entrepreneurs.

He added that the webinar series will provide SMEs with useful tools and resources, such as budget templates, calculators for simulation and forecasting, links to government forms, and more. 

According to Adigun, the MySME Growth Series will also provide training on starting a business, including how to register a company, industry-specific statistics for different parts of the country, and important considerations for running a business. The series will also feature a library of articles on topics such as increasing sales, advertising ideas, best practices in business management, case studies, and leveraging technology.