By Chinwendu Obienyi
The federal government and Access Bank Plc have restated their commitment to supporting Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), describing entrepreneurship as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and job creation.
The reaffirmation came on the heels of the 2025 National MSME Awards, where Ifeoma Okonkwo, Chief Executive Officer of IFGREEN, emerged as the overall winner of the prestigious competition. Her grand prize, valued at N220 million, included a brand-new car, a fully equipped retail shop, and N10 million in cash.
Okonkwo, a passionate agripreneur and alumna of Access Bank’s Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton initiative, leads IFGREEN, an integrated agribusiness that processes cassava into premium gluten-free flour and food-grade starch for industrial use. Since its inception, IFGREEN has grown from a two-person operation to employing 77 direct and indirect staff, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth.
Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja recently, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, emphasized the importance of the awards in recognizing and elevating small businesses.
Adekunle-Johnson noted that the National MSME Awards commemorate the United Nations World MSMEs Day and celebrates the contributions of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
According to him, the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is committed to supporting MSMEs, including those owned by persons with disabilities.
The Special Adviser also acknowledged the challenges facing MSMEs and noted that the government is implementing reforms to improve access to finance, reduce regulatory bottlenecks, and boost productivity.
In her remarks, Deputy Managing Director at Access Bank, Chizoma Okoli, lauded Okonkwo’s achievement and highlighted the impact of private sector partnerships in strengthening the MSME sector.
She added that the bank is dedicated to driving the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises as key engines of economic development and job creation.
We understand that empowering MSMEs is critical to building a resilient economy, and that is why we have partnered with the Federal government to uplift small business to the next level.
We are especially proud to recognize Ifeoma as one of the standout participants in Access Bank’s Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton, a platform that identifies and nurtures promising entrepreneurs. Through our Womenprenuer Pitch-a-ton initiative, we have supported her journey by providing tailored business advice, mentorship, and resources that have enabled her to scale IFGREEN from a small startup to a nationally recognized enterprise and ultimately become the overall winner of the National MSME Awards”, Okoli said.
Group Head, SME Banking at Access Bank, Abiodun Olubitan, also praised the Federal Government’s initiative, reiterating the bank’s commitment to MSMEs.
She added that Access Bank is deliberate about empowering small businesses, especially those led by women, because MSMEs contribute over 40 per cent to GDP and 80 per cent of employment in Nigeria.
The event reaffirmed the synergy between government policy and private sector intervention in driving sustainable development through entrepreneurship.