{
  "id": 19706212,
  "title": "Mastercard, SMEDAN convene MSME Growth Forum, sign MoU to advance SME digitization in Nigeria",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/mastercard-smedan-convene-msme-growth-forum-sign-mou-to-advance-sme",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T20:24:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/12/mastercard-smedan-convene-msme-growth-forum-sign-mou-to-advance-sme-digitization-in-nigeria/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mastercard and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) convened industry professionals at the SMEDAN MSME Growth Forum to discuss practical tools and collaborations necessary for Nigerian small businesses to thrive in the digital era. This partnership stems from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment's backing for the national MSME Digitization Programme, which aligns with Nigeria's focus on digital economy development and SME support. Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Mastercard and SMEDAN, the two organizations will explore joint initiatives aimed at boosting MSME digitization and growth. The collaboration aims to assist Nigerian SMEs in adopting digital tools, streamlining operations, and increasing participation in the formal economy. Tara Nathan, Mastercard's executive vice president for Growth Segments, emphasized that small businesses are crucial drivers of economic growth, job creation, and innovation. However, many entrepreneurs still face barriers to digitization, skill enhancement, and access to finance. Through the MoU, Mastercard and SMEDAN plan to support Nigerian entrepreneurs in building more resilient businesses by providing essential tools, capabilities, and connections to participate in the digital economy. Charles Odii, SMEDAN's director general, noted that entrepreneurs require more than encouragement to digitize; they need practical tools, skills, and support tailored to the specific challenges of running a small business. The SMEDAN-Mastercard partnership aims to bridge this gap by coordinating engagement with government and other ecosystem partners. Kari Tukur, Mastercard's country manager for West Africa, stressed that SMEs are pivotal to Nigeria's economic future and that supporting their growth requires more than just access to funding. Business owners increasingly need digital payment capabilities, practical skills, market access, and trusted partners to grow sustainably. During the MSME Growth Forum, Tara Nathan delivered a keynote address, and Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), participated in a fireside discussion titled \"Informal to Inclusive: Payments, Policy, and the Path for Nigeria's Small Businesses.\" The forum also featured a panel discussion titled \"Beyond Credit: The Solutions Nigerian SMEs Need to Grow and Scale,\" moderated by Kari Tukur. This panel explored how public-private partnerships, digital payments, and enabling policy frameworks can help informal businesses transition into the formal economy and improve resilience while addressing the practical challenges faced by Nigerian entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for a broader support ecosystem beyond access to credit. Attendees participated in hands-on masterclasses focused on building business and digital capabilities, covering topics such as digital marketing strategies for SMEs and sector-specific solutions to improve productivity, expand market access, and build more sustainable businesses. This collaboration reflects Mastercard and SMEDAN's commitment to exploring opportunities to enhance Nigerian SMEs' competitiveness through innovation, capability building, and cooperation. By bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, business leaders, and entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to create practical paths for small businesses to thrive in Nigeria's digital economy.",
  "summary": "Mastercard and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) convened entrepreneurs, financial institutions, policymakers and ecosystem partners at the SMEDAN MSME Growth Forum to explore the practical tools, collaborations and capabilities Nigerian small businesses need to grow in the digital age. The collaboration builds on the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}