The Enterprise Développement Centre (EDC), Keystone Bank, MasterCard Foundation, and Tripoint Academy have urged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to focus on sustainable and impact-driven entrepreneurship growth.

This was said during the 2025 EDC SMEs conference in Lagos recently, with the theme: “Catalyzing the Future: Empowering Small Businesses for Impact and Inclusive Growth”.

Director, Enterprises Development Centre (EDC), Dr. Nneka Okekearu, highlighted the organisation’s focus on sustainable and impact-driven entrepreneurship growth as the conference explores compliance, exports, and tax regulations, offering a platform for entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and collaborate.

While praising Tripoint Academy’s work in empowering over 30,000 women in 10 years, she reiterated that EDC’s partnership with Tripoint Academy to promote inclusive growth and support women entrepreneurs also aligns with Keystone Bank’s commitment to impact-driven growth and entrepreneurship development.

During her keynote speech, Country Director of MasterCard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, praised EDC’s milestone 18-year conference, highlighting the significant impact of its programmes on society. She noted that SMEs are the economy’s driving force, facing obstacles such as access to finance, market access, and tools for efficiency, and that MasterCard Foundation partners with EDC to address these challenges, empowering SMEs nationwide through targeted programs.

Fynn emphasised that 2026 should prioritize collaboration over competition, highlighting MasterCard Foundation’s partnership-driven approach. She therefore urged SMEs to leverage platforms like this to showcase products and expand customer bases.

Also speaking at the event, Keystone Bank’s Executive Director, Nnenna Anyim Okoro, emphasised the crucial role SMEs play in Nigeria’s economy and the bank’s comprehensive approach to supporting them. Okoro announced plans to increase the frequency of the SME clinic, providing insights and thought leadership to entrepreneurs.

Shuhda Muhammad, Founder of Tripoint Travels Academy and Tourism and representative of all northern entrepreneurs, praised the initiative and thanked the organizers. She emphasised empowering entrepreneurs in northern Nigeria, particularly women, with over 11,000 entrepreneurs supported, 80 per cent of whom are women. She claimed that the initiative is an enabler that aims to shift mindsets and promote financial independence, enabling women to overcome barriers and showcase their products and services.