Zedvance to Triple Lending to N500 Billion for Nigerian SMEs

Zedcrest Group Managing Director Adedayo Amzat announced a significant strategic shift, committing 100 percent of Zedvance's active loan portfolio to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and critical ecosystem enablers. This move aims to tackle the persistent financing challenges hindering Nigeria's mid-market enterprises.

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The people gathered in this room, and the ecosystems that you all represent in one shape or form, are the true drivers of the Nigerian economy.

Speaking at the Zedvance Business Roundtable themed “Unlocking Growth: The Role of Smart Financing in Building Resilient Businesses,” Amzat highlighted that while large corporate initial public offerings often capture public attention, the true economic engine of Nigeria lies with its mid-sized operators. "The people gathered in this room, and the ecosystems that you all represent in one shape or form, are the true drivers of the Nigerian economy," Amzat stated, acknowledging the resilience of entrepreneurs operating in a difficult environment.

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I am deeply honored to be standing in front of people who are fighting day and night, tooth and nail; people who often cannot get the right sort of financing, who cannot access the adequate land capital required to execute projects, or who cannot secure enough corner shops to set up petrol stations.

Amzat emphasized the struggles faced by many businesses, noting, "I am deeply honored to be standing in front of people who are fighting day and night, tooth and nail; people who often cannot get the right sort of financing, who cannot access the adequate land capital required to execute projects, or who cannot secure enough corner shops to set up petrol stations." He also touched upon the historical challenges of managing credit risk in a volatile market.

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ecosystem-linked solutions

To address these issues, Zedvance is pioneering "ecosystem-linked solutions." This innovative model involves structured partnerships with corporate aggregators to channel liquidity safely to smallholders within specific sectors such as agriculture, automotive distribution, and energy. Over the next 18 months, Zedvance plans to deploy ₦500 billion to support growth-ready enterprises. Ayooluwa Oladimeji, Executive Director of Commercial Solutions at Zedvance Finance, explained the broader impact: "A business loan enables an enterprise to scale production, hire 100 more individuals, and distribute more goods, multiplying the macroeconomic impact a hundredfold compared to a single consumer loan."

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A business loan enables an enterprise to scale production, hire 100 more individuals, and distribute more goods, multiplying the macroeconomic impact a hundredfold compared to a single consumer loan.