MTN Nigeria and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have formed a strategic partnership to increase digital access, financial inclusion, and capacity building for the country's 40 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at MTN Plaza in Lagos.
The agreement includes the launch of mySMEville, a digital platform meant to assist firms in accessing capital, entering new markets, acquiring specialised knowledge, and adopting critical digital tools.
The initiative aims to address credit availability, payment systems, and market reach issues through mobile money services and technology-driven financial support.
SMEDAN director-general Charles Odii stated that the organisation relies on technology and private-sector collaboration to carry out its mandate.
With only 400 staff serving millions of businesses, he noted that MTN’s digital infrastructure would accelerate nationwide enterprise support.
He said that SMEDAN’s four-point GROW model - Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce Development will guide the rollout, which is expected to boost job creation and business modernisation.
He added that SMEDAN has already created over 100,000 jobs within its two-year administration and expects the partnership to significantly boost job creation, business expansion, and nationwide enterprise modernisation.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief enterprise business officer at MTN Nigeria, stated that the platform would meet the diverse demands of nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises by promoting financial and digital inclusion, as well as skill development.
The partnership involves coordinated projects aimed at digital adoption, verified business data, financial access, and training activities.
With the MoU signed, both groups will immediately deploy tools, content, and resources to boost MSME growth across the country.
Share
