Encomium
On 12 May 2026, MTN and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, hosted Angola’s National Institute for the Support of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, INAPEM, to showcase mySMEVille as a catalyst for pan-African economic growth. Led by its Chairman, Bráulio Augusto, the mission seeks to replicate Nigeria’s digital partnership framework to drive Angola’s own SME transformation.
Nigeria’s MSME landscape is vast, comprising over 40 million businesses that contribute 48% to the national GDP and 84% of total employment. Despite this, the sector faces a $158 billion annual financing gap, with only 3.9% accessing formal credit. Additionally, 67% of small businesses lack essential digital tools, while fewer than one in five owners have received formal business training.
The engagement marks a significant milestone in a journey that began in November 2025 with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MTN and SMEDAN. Following a successful pilot launch in Lagos in December 2025 with over 200 businesses, the initiative has rapidly scaled. As of May 2026, more than 2,600 businesses have been enrolled nationwide, demonstrating the efficiency of a unified platform in bridging the MSME support gap. Reflecting on the continental potential of this framework during the Angolan delegation’s visit, Dr Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN, noted that local solutions are already yielding regional blueprints.
“The success of this collaboration proves that Africa’s $158 billion MSME funding and digital gap cannot be solved in isolation,” he stated. “It requires a borderless mindset. Hosting our partners from Angola demonstrates that when public policy aligns with private-sector technology, we build an unstoppable ecosystem capable of formalizing and transforming millions of businesses across the continent “
Speaking during the visit, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer (CEBO) at MTN Nigeria, highlighted the company’s dedication to driving growth across the continent. “At MTN Business, our mission is clear: we want to be the leading technology partner that helps African enterprises grow, compete, and make a lasting impact. We are focused on building meaningful platforms and solutions that scale, creating ecosystems that truly speed up inclusive economic growth for everyone.”
The mySMEville platform addresses these challenges through four critical pillars: Information and Skills, Funding and Capital, Infrastructure, and Market Reach. By aggregating partners such as the Bank of Industry and various tech hubs, the platform provides SMEs with subsidised data, solar power solutions, and e-commerce tools.
Njideka Jack, General Manager of Enterprise Marketing at MTN Nigeria, spoke about the power of collaboration during her presentation. “mySMEville isn’t just about one company; it’s an ecosystem where partners, SMEs, and communities thrive together . We’ve created a central resource that combines the massive reach of MTN with the national mission of SMEDAN to truly transform the small business economy.”
Explaining the strategy further, Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, detailed how the initiative offers targeted support. “We meet small business owners exactly where they need us. Every part of the platform is designed to tackle a real-world hurdle whether it’s funding, digital tools , or finding new customers by connecting them with partners who can help them move from just getting by to leading their industry.”
During the visit, Olatunbosun Agosu, Senior Specialist, ICT Segment Management, MTN Business, demonstrated how the mySMEville platform, a joint effort by MTN and SMEDAN, serves as the one-resource orchestrator for Nigeria’s 40 million small businesses. This intuitive, centralised website is vital for bridging the country’s $158 billion funding gap and digital divide. By aggregating diverse partners, it provides entrepreneurs direct access to funding, essential growth information, infrastructure (like solar power), and e-commerce tools.
The technical mission concluded with a roadmap for the next 24 months, which includes an ambition to enroll 5 million MSMEs. This phase will see the integration of advanced learning management systems and policy advocacy at the national level to further formalise Nigeria’s informal economy, where 80% of businesses currently remain unregistered.
