FirstBank Pledges to Bridge Financing Gaps and Drive SME Growth with Digital Solutions
FirstBank Group has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging financial gaps and leveraging digital solutions to tackle business challenges in Nigeria, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and emerging corporates. Speaking at a breakfast session during the 31st Nigeria Economic Summit, Managing Director Olusegun Alebiosu emphasized that access to finance is critical for unlocking the potential of the nation’s real sector.
The summit, themed “Expanding Access to Finance and Driving Growth Across Middle Market and Emerging Corporate Segments,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology partners to explore practical solutions for fostering sustainable growth. Alebiosu stressed that collaboration across these groups is essential to creating a financial ecosystem that supports innovation, resilience, and economic diversification.
“FirstBank empowers SMEs and emerging corporates through tailored products and services that stimulate growth across value chains,” Alebiosu said. “By forging partnerships across policy, industry, and technology, we can create an enabling environment that unlocks new opportunities for businesses to thrive.” With a legacy spanning 131 years, the bank positions itself as a trusted partner in Nigeria’s journey toward economic inclusion and long-term prosperity.
Also addressing the summit, Mrs. Aishatu Bubaram, Group Executive of Commercial Banking, North Division, highlighted the critical role of middle-market and emerging corporates in job creation, innovation, and sectoral diversification. She acknowledged persistent challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate advisory support, and fragile operational ecosystems, which hinder these businesses from reaching their full potential.
Bubaram emphasized that FirstBank’s mission goes beyond traditional banking, focusing on how finance can accelerate inclusion, policy can foster enabling environments, and collective action can transform Nigeria’s entrepreneurial energy into shared prosperity. “Supporting enterprise growth is not just a banking imperative; it is a national imperative,” she said, underscoring the bank’s continued investment in technology and partnerships to drive inclusive economic growth.
source: Leadership