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By Merit Ibe
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) Lab, ‘Desola Jimmy-Eboma, has emphasised that with the right platform and resources, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can thrive and drive Nigeria’s economic growth.
Jimmy-Eboma made the remark at the graduation and business showcase of the Manufacturers Business Accelerator (MBA) Cohort 2, themed: “Innovation, Inclusion, Impact: Redefining MSMEs in Nigeria’s Economy.”
She described the graduation of the entrepreneurs as the birth of new enterprises poised to shape industries, create jobs, and contribute to the nation’s development. According to the SMEs expert, the MBA programme was designed to equip small-scale entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and mentorship needed to transform ideas and side hustles into scalable ventures.
“In just 90 days, participants journeyed through discovery, validation, and execution, emerging with market-ready products and businesses positioned for growth,” she said.
Jimmy-Eboma noted that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in the resilience and creativity of small businesses. “By empowering them, we are not just fueling dreams but building the foundation for generations to come,” she added, urging the graduates to continue nurturing their ventures into success stories that will make global impact.
She explained that SSE Lab is a business development and empowerment platform created to nurture and grow MSMEs across Africa, supporting entrepreneurs from idea discovery to full-scale execution.
Jimmy-Eboma also encouraged Nigerian youths to believe in themselves and cultivate a strong reading culture, stressing that knowledge is key to innovation and policy understanding.
“My message to Nigerian youth is to believe in themselves and have the can-do spirit. Whatever you set your mind to do, you can achieve it. Read widely, understand policies, and translate them into business opportunities,” she advised.
She further urged the government to establish hubs across the states to connect farmers with processors, ensuring value addition and better income for local producers.
“By creating such linkages, farmers will earn more value for what they produce from local areas,” she added.
On the nature of the MBA, she said: “Our focus is on practicality, sustainability, and structure. “lWe run high-impact, easy-to-understand programs that help individuals turn passion into purpose-driven, income-generating ventures.”
Describing the MBA as the Lab’s flagship programme, she said it is a 12-week virtual accelerator that helps entrepreneurs build systems, structure, and scalable business models. She announced that Cohort 3 of the programme will commence in a few weeks.
On her part, Head of Retail and SME Banking at NOVA Bank, Esther Obiekwe, stated that when small businesses thrive, nations prosper, stressing that the future of Nigeria’s economy depends on how well the country nurtures and empowers its MSMEs today.
Obiekwe highlighted the need for effective partnerships among government, financial institutions, development partners, and entrepreneurs to truly redefine the MSME landscape.
According to her, despite their immense potential, MSMEs continue to face daily challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, regulatory bottlenecks, and a fragmented market. She, however, noted that innovation, inclusion, and impact remain key to helping small businesses overcome these hurdles.
“Innovation is no longer about technology alone,” she said. “It’s about thinking differently and reimagining how we solve local problems with local resources. The question is not whether MSMEs matter, but how we can make them matter more — through innovation, inclusion, and impact.”
Obiekwe explained that NOVA Bank is committed to driving financial innovation that keeps pace with business realities. “We are investing in digital SME platforms, simplified onboarding, and tailored business advisory services that help entrepreneurs grow smarter, not just bigger,” she added.
Obiekwe also called on the authorities to simplify taxation and compliance processes.
“Strengthen infrastructure and logistics,; Promote digital adoption and capacity building, and Encourage MSMEs to formalize operations, maintain proper records, and build customer trust through service excellence.”
