Building Businesses That Can Last: Inside ProvidusUnity Bank’s SME Growth Programme
For entrepreneurs across Nigeria, access to capital is only one part of the journey to building a sustainable business. Increasingly, the ability to put the right structures, systems and skills in place is proving just as important. It is this gap that ProvidusUnity Bank has sought to address through its SME capacity-building programme, which has […]
ProvidusUnity Bank, in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, has launched a six-year-old SME capacity-building programme that now operates in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The hybrid programme, which spans more than three months, combines training, mentorship, networking, and access to funding.
It focuses on critical areas such as business strategy, operational efficiency, financial record keeping, sustainability, risk management, and growth planning. Addressing the need for sustainable businesses in Nigeria's SME ecosystem, the programme aims to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary structures, systems, and skills to navigate operating conditions and attract institutional financing.
The initiation of the programme six years ago started with helping struggling businesses find their footing and pivot, with subsequent cohorts expanding to encompass long-term strategy, eligibility expansion, and addressing demand. The impact of the initiative extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by testimonials from program participants like Uju Okeke, Olatunji Alaaki, and Tunji Onakoya.
Facilitator Adegboyega Adebajo believes the programme is reshaping participants' approaches to business growth, emphasizing the importance of structure and long-term planning. Ernest Elue, Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, emphasizes that the program's broader objective is to build a credible platform enabling SMEs to become stronger, sustainable businesses that contribute to the Nigerian economy's growth.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
