Keystone Bank SME Business Clinic empowers Nigerian entrepreneurs with training, tools and insights to scale and sustain their small businesses across 10 cities
Keystone Bank has empowered thousands of Nigerian entrepreneurs through its SME Business Clinic, held in 10 cities to mark the 2025 United Nations World SME Day.
The Keystone Bank SME Business Clinic, themed Empowering SMEs for Growth and Sustainability, ran throughout June across markets in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Asaba, Onitsha, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Abuja and Ibadan.
The programme delivered expert-led training, strategic guidance and networking opportunities tailored to small and medium-scale businesses.
Group Head of Retail and Digital Banking, Olayemi Sule, said the bank recognises the transformative role SMEs play in the country’s economy.
“At Keystone Bank, we understand the vital role SMEs play in national development. The SME Business Clinic was designed to equip business owners with practical tools and knowledge to scale their ventures, build resilience, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth,” she explained.
Each session included hands-on workshops and Q&A forums, offering direct insights into the realities entrepreneurs face daily. Topics ranged from financing options to business continuity planning in volatile markets.
Participants commended Keystone Bank for extending genuine support beyond banking. Many described the event as timely and practical, noting that the initiative made them feel “seen, heard and encouraged.”
“It’s rare to see a bank come down to our level, talk to us directly, and teach us things that make sense in our business lives,” said one participant in Onitsha.
The event aligns with findings from the Moniepoint Informal Economy Report 2024, which estimates Nigeria is home to around 40 million MSMEs—over 89 per cent of them operating within the informal sector.
Keystone Bank’s initiative not only recognises their contribution but also seeks to formalise, strengthen and sustain these vital engines of the Nigerian economy.
