MTN Nigeria and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria have intensified efforts to support up to five million small businesses through the mySMEville platform, a digital initiative designed to address the country’s estimated $158bn annual financing gap for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The partners disclosed this during a visit by a delegation from Angola’s National Institute of Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to MTN Nigeria’s headquarters in Lagos.
The delegation, led by INAPEM Chairman Bráulio Augusto, visited Nigeria to study the success of the MTN-SMEDAN collaboration and explore opportunities to replicate the model in Angola.
According to the organisers, mySMEville was created to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem by addressing four critical areas: information, funding, infrastructure and market access.
The platform seeks to support the growth of small businesses, which contribute approximately 48 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product but continue to face significant barriers to growth and financing.
Officials said the initiative has recorded rapid expansion since MTN Nigeria and SMEDAN signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2025.
Following a pilot phase in Lagos that onboarded 200 businesses in December 2025, the platform has grown to more than 2,600 businesses nationwide as of May 2026.
The partners attributed the strong growth to increasing demand for digital solutions and business support services among entrepreneurs.
They noted that nearly 80 per cent of Nigerian SMEs operate within the informal sector, while only 3.9 per cent have access to formal credit facilities, highlighting the urgent need for innovative support mechanisms.
Speaking during the visit, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, said the telecommunications company remains committed to using technology to empower businesses across Africa.
“Our goal is simple; we want to be the best technology partner out there, helping African businesses grow fast, compete globally, and make a real, lasting impact,” she said.
Saint-Nwafor noted that technology-driven platforms such as mySMEville can play a crucial role in closing funding and information gaps that often limit business growth.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr Charles Odii, described the partnership as a strong example of how collaboration between government institutions and private-sector organisations can accelerate economic development.
“What we are witnessing here is a formidable force for economic progress. Through this deliberate Public-Private Partnership, Nigeria is aligning its public and private sectors to lead the way for Africa,” Odii said.
During a presentation at the event, MTN Business Senior Specialist for ICT Segment Management, Olatunbosun Agosu, demonstrated the platform’s features and capabilities.
He explained that mySMEville serves as a central hub where entrepreneurs can access funding opportunities, solar energy solutions, e-commerce tools and critical business information.
Agosu added that the platform functions as a one-stop solution by connecting small businesses with multiple service providers and support partners.
According to the organisers, the platform is designed to serve Nigeria’s estimated 40 million small businesses by simplifying access to resources that can improve productivity and competitiveness.
The visiting Angolan delegation praised the initiative and highlighted the value of collaboration between public institutions and private-sector operators.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Augusto said the visit provided valuable insights that could help shape similar programmes in Angola.
“The key thing I learned here is the strength of the public and private sector partnership. mySMEville clearly shows what’s possible, and we will absolutely use these insights as we adapt this model back home in Angola,” he said.
Looking ahead, MTN Nigeria and SMEDAN said they plan to deepen the platform’s impact through the introduction of the mySMEville Academy, expanded e-commerce integrations and policy advocacy initiatives.
The partners expressed confidence that these efforts will accelerate business growth, improve financial inclusion and help achieve their goal of supporting five million MSMEs across Nigeria.
Industry stakeholders believe that strengthening access to finance, technology and market opportunities will be critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s small business sector and driving sustainable economic growth.
