Stanbic IBTC, Abia State Partner to Deepen MSME Growth

Stanbic IBTC Bank is intensifying its commitment to boosting Nigeria's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through strategic alliances with state governments. A recent partnership with the Abia State Government in Aba focused on empowering entrepreneurs.

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Abia State is intentionally building an ecosystem where businesses can start, grow, compete and access markets both locally and internationally. Through the development of the State MSME Policy, the MSME Directory, the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Project, we are laying the foundation for sustainable enterprise growth. Partnerships with organisations like Stanbic IBTC are critical to achieving this vision because government cannot build a thriving MSME ecosystem alone.

The collaboration offered business enlightenment sessions, funding masterclasses, enterprise advisory services, and capacity-building programs. Abia State's Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Michael Enyinnaya Akpara, highlighted the state's dedication to creating a competitive business environment through policy reforms. Initiatives include a comprehensive MSME Policy and a statewide MSME Directory to improve business visibility and investment access.

Furthermore, Abia State is planning the National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Project (Abia Expo 2026). This initiative aims to showcase Nigerian businesses, bolster locally manufactured products, and establish Abia as a prime location for quality production. "Abia State is intentionally building an ecosystem where businesses can start, grow, compete and access markets both locally and internationally," Akpara stated, emphasizing the critical role of partnerships like the one with Stanbic IBTC.

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Businesses do not scale in isolation. They scale when they have access to capital; to intelligence; and to the platforms that connect them to wider markets.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Chief Executive Chuma Nwokocha underscored the bank's role in facilitating business growth by providing access to capital, intelligence, and market platforms. He pledged to accelerate MSME development through value chain finance, structured lending, and advisory capabilities. Remy Osuagwu, Executive Director of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, added that the bank is adopting a nationwide strategy to offer practical business support directly to entrepreneurs.

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We will accelerate MSME graduation through value chain finance, structured lending, and the credit and advisory capability that turns promising businesses into durable ones. And we will invest in the sectors that will define Nigeria’s next decade.