The FATE Foundation has charged Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to reposition for global competitiveness as it convened entrepreneurs, business leaders and industry experts at its 11th Annual Business Conference in Lagos.

The event with the theme, “Beyond Borders: Transforming MSMEs for Global Competitiveness,” was held on September 17–18, 2026, at the Divine Event Center, Obanikoro.

The conference theme focused on strategies to equip Nigerian businesses with the knowledge, capacity and resources needed to scale sustainably beyond the domestic market.

The two-day event brought together key stakeholders across the entrepreneurship ecosystem to deliberate on challenges limiting MSME growth and explore practical pathways for building resilient, globally competitive businesses.

Representing CreditPRO Finance Company Limited, its Managing Director, Dr. Sola Adeyiga, who participated as a panel speaker, addressed critical considerations that influence MSMEs’ access to institutional credit.

Speaking on credit readiness, Dr. Adeyiga highlighted the 5 Cs of Credit: Character, Capacity, Capital, Conditions and Collateral, emphasising that “profitability alone does not determine whether a business is positioned to secure financing.”

According to Dr. Adeyiga, profitability alone does not guarantee a business’s ability to repay a loan, as repayment ultimately depends on the availability and timing of cash flow.

He emphasised that lenders assess how effectively a business generates and manages cash, meets existing obligations, maintains financial discipline and responds to changing market conditions, noted that, while collateral can provide security for a facility, it does not substitute for a viable business model or adequate repayment capacity.

“Loans are serviced by liquid cash flow, not paper profitability,” Dr. Adeyiga stated, emphasising the need for businesses to understand their cash conversion cycles and maintain disciplined financial practices.

CreditPRO’s participation at the conference further reflects its commitment to supporting the development and growth of Nigerian MSMEs. The company was admitted earlier this year into the FATE School Transformers Programme, an initiative of FATE Foundation focused on supporting growth-stage enterprises, and also supported the conference as a corporate sponsor.

The discussion reinforced the importance of building creditworthiness before financing is needed. MSMEs were encouraged to maintain proper financial records, separate personal and business finances, route business transactions through formal accounts, protect their credit history and maintain transparent communication with financial institutions.

As Nigerian businesses pursue greater competitiveness and opportunities beyond domestic markets, CreditPRO emphasised that being finance-ready begins with the way a business is managed everyday.