At the heart of Lagos’ buzzing innovation ecosystem, thought leaders from the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Keystone Bank, MasterCard Foundation, and Tripoint Academy converged to champion a bold message — the future of Nigeria’s economy depends on sustainable, inclusive, and impact-driven entrepreneurship.
Held under the powerful theme, “Catalysing the Future: Empowering Small Businesses for Impact and Inclusive Growth,” the 2025 EDC SME Conference wasn’t just another gathering — it was a rallying call for a new generation of entrepreneurs determined to build beyond profit and leave a legacy of transformation.
Building Businesses That Build Nigeria
Opening the event, Nneka Okekearu, Director of EDC, emphasized that the true strength of a business lies not only in its profits but in its impact, adaptability, and integrity. She described how this year’s conference took a deep dive into crucial topics such as compliance, exports, and tax reforms, arming entrepreneurs with the tools to scale responsibly and globally.
She further celebrated the decade-long partnership with Tripoint Academy, which has empowered over 30,000 women entrepreneurs nationwide. “When women rise, communities thrive,” Okekearu noted, underscoring EDC’s vision of inclusive economic growth driven by capacity, confidence, and collaboration.
The MasterCard Vision: Empowering Resilience and Innovation
Delivering a keynote that resonated with the audience, Rosy Fynn, Country Director at MasterCard Foundation, commended EDC’s eighteen years of unbroken commitment to SME empowerment. Fynn described small businesses as “the heartbeat of Africa’s economy”—yet too often constrained by limited access to finance, markets, and technology.
She shared that MasterCard Foundation’s ongoing partnership with EDC is tailored to close these critical gaps through specialized programmes that equip entrepreneurs with digital skills, market intelligence, and growth capital.
Fynn encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to collaborate rather than compete, adding, “Sustainable success in 2026 and beyond will belong to those who build bridges, not walls.”
Keystone Bank: Financing Dreams, Fueling Growth
Representing the financial sector’s voice, Nnenna Okoro, Executive Director at Keystone Bank, described SMEs as “the invisible engine driving Nigeria’s economy.” She announced plans to expand the bank’s SME Clinic Initiative, which goes beyond funding to provide strategic mentoring, business insights, and leadership guidance for business owners.
“Our goal,” Okoro affirmed, “is not just to lend money, but to lend knowledge, confidence, and opportunity — the true capital every entrepreneur needs.”
Tripoint Academy: Transforming Mindsets, Empowering Women
Adding a northern perspective, Shuhda Muhammad, Founder of Tripoint Travels Academy, shared inspiring progress from her organisation’s decade-long mission to equip women with entrepreneurial skills and financial independence.
Through its transformative programmes, over 11,000 entrepreneurs — 80 percent of them women — have been trained in business management, market positioning, and digital branding. “We’re not just teaching women to earn,” Muhammad explained, “we’re helping them see themselves as creators, innovators, and leaders.”
Her remarks echoed a unifying theme of the conference: sustainability begins with empowerment, and empowerment begins with access.
Charting a Path Toward Inclusive Prosperity
As the 2025 EDC SME Conference concluded, one message echoed across the hall — the next chapter of Nigeria’s growth will be written by entrepreneurs who choose purpose over mere profit.
With EDC’s unwavering leadership, MasterCard Foundation’s strategic support, Keystone Bank’s innovative financing, and Tripoint Academy’s grassroots empowerment, a new entrepreneurial movement is emerging — one where every small business is not just a participant in the economy, but a catalyst for change.
In a country brimming with creativity, resilience, and ambition, the call is clear: Nigeria’s small businesses are no longer just growing — they’re redefining what it means to build impact that lasts.
