LAGOS, Nigeria – Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank (ALAT), has reaffirmed its commitment to MSME growth by awarding N3 million in business grants to three outstanding leather entrepreneurs at the Lagos Leather Fair 2025.
The winners—selected through a competitive pitch session—each received N1,000,000 to scale their businesses:
EwaOluwa Morenikeji (House of Ewa Limited) – Luxury leather bags
Joy Fache James (Paciencia) – Handcrafted leather goods
Fatima Yusuf (House of Zibima) – Contemporary leather accessories
Why This Matters
Empowering Artisans: Grants enable access to better machinery, materials, and market expansion.
Boosting Nigeria’s Leather Industry: A sector with $1 billion export potential (NEPC).
Wema Bank’s Track Record:
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N300B+ disbursed in SME loans/grants
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800,000+ SMEs supported
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250,000+ linked to buyers across Africa
EwaOluwa Morenikeji (Grant Recipient):
“This grant will help upgrade my equipment and increase production quality. Wema Bank’s support is a game-changer for small businesses like mine.”
Wema Bank’s MSME Commitment
Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO:
“MSMEs drive Nigeria’s economy. By funding grassroots businesses, we’re not just building enterprises—we’re strengthening the nation’s economic fabric.”
Key Initiatives:
Prestige by Wema: Exclusive banking for high-net-worth entrepreneurs
ALAT for Business: Digital tools for SME banking and international trade
Annual Grants/Competitions: Direct funding for promising startups
Lagos Leather Fair: Africa’s Premier Leather Expo
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West Africa’s largest leather trade show
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Connects designers, manufacturers, and global buyers
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Celebrates African craftsmanship and export potential
Wema Bank’s Role:
✔ Second consecutive year as sponsor
✔ Showcased SME success stories
✔ Facilitated buyer-seller matchmaking
Looking Ahead
With 80 years of SME support, Wema Bank plans to:
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Expand grant programs to agritech and fashion startups
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Launch SME export accelerators for AfCFTA markets
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Digitize loan applications for faster disbursement
