234Finance launches SME bootcamp with $2 m funding pool for African entrepreneurs
African business advisory and investment platform 234Finance has launched the 234Finance SME Bootcamp 2026, a Pan-African business support programme targeting... Read more.
CBN says SME lending is increasing but structural barriers remain
Nigeria’s banking sector has entered a new phase of financial capacity following the completion of its sweeping recapitalisation programme, with the Central... Read more.
S&P upgrades Nigeria’s credit rating for first time in 14 years
S&P Global Ratings has raised Nigeria’s long-term sovereign credit rating from B- to B, maintaining a Stable Outlook, in a move that marks the country’s... Read more.
40% of Nigerian businesses are women-owned, yet credit remains elusive
A new Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Baseline Report launched at the Inclusive Investment Forum in Lagos has exposed a sharp contradiction at the heart of... Read more.
FCMB opens zero-interest loan programme offering up to N10m for women-owned SMEs
First City Monument Bank has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures programme, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs... Read more.
Rising diesel costs squeeze Nigerian SMEs property, construction sectors
A new report by real estate intelligence firm Estate Intel has laid bare the escalating cost burden facing Nigerian businesses, with diesel prices rising from N1,300... Read more.
Tinubu seeks finance reform as Nigeria’s $11.6bn debt hurts SMEs
Nigeria will spend approximately $11.6 billion servicing its debt in 2026, representing nearly half of the country’s projected government revenue, President... Read more.
CBN fixes May 19 for rate decision meeting as businesses push for further cuts
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee is set to convene its 305th meeting tomorrow, 19 May 2026, at the apex bank’s headquarters in... Read more.
AfDB approves $200m for BOI to expand long-term financing for Nigerian SMEs
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $200 million sovereign-guaranteed financing facility for the Bank of Industry, directing long-term capital into... Read more.
Power, skills, and finance gaps keep Nigerian SMEs stuck in survival mode
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria will only scale sustainably if the country confronts three deeply rooted structural problems: unreliable power supply,... Read more.
