SSE Lab Founder urges support For MSMEs, says Nigeria’s economic future lies in small businesses 

CITIZENS COMPASS— The Founder and Convener of the Small-Scale Enterprises Lab (SSE Lab), Mrs. Desola Jimmy-Eboma, has emphasised that the future of Nigeria’s economy depends largely on the creativity and resilience of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across the country.

Jimmy-Eboma stated this on Thursday at the MBA Business Shower: Cohort 2 Graduation and Business Showcase held in Lagos, with the theme “Innovation, Inclusion, Impact: Redefining MSMEs in Nigeria’s Economy.”

BUSINESSINSIDERNG reports that the SSE Lab is a business development and empowerment platform created to nurture and grow micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa. The Lab supports entrepreneurs from idea discovery to full business execution and scaling, with a strong focus on practicality, sustainability, and structure.

She noted that empowering small business owners not only fuels their entrepreneurial dreams but also builds the foundation of sustainable prosperity for generations to come.

“Today, we celebrate not just the graduation of entrepreneurs but the birth of new enterprises that will shape industries, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth,” she said.

Jimmy-Eboma explained that the Manufacturing Business Accelerator (MBA) programme was designed with a singular mission — to equip small-scale entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and mentorship needed to transform ideas and side hustles into scalable, sustainable ventures.

“In just ninety days, our participants journey through a process of discovery, validation, and execution, emerging with products ready for market and businesses ready to thrive,” she added.

“The Business Showers are more than a graduation ceremony; they are a launchpad — a place where innovation meets opportunity, where courage meets recognition, and where small beginnings are fuelled into great enterprises.”

She further called for consistent support for small business owners to enable them grow into sustainable success stories that would resonate within and beyond the nation.

“Together, let us continue to nurture small businesses into success stories that will echo far beyond these walls. For the SME/MSME ecosystem, it signifies a critical bridge — from vision to venture, from concept to commerce,” she said.

Jimmy-Eboma reiterated that the growth and resilience of Nigeria’s small businesses remain central to national economic transformation.

“By empowering them, we are not only fuelling dreams but also building the foundation of prosperity for generations to come,” she concluded.

Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Charles Odii, commended the initiative and described it as a timely effort to drive the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

Odii who was represented by the agency’s South-West Coordinator, Olukayode Shode, said the economy needs more ideas and platforms that will promote innovation and sustainability among small businesses.

He noted that developing the MSME sector requires a collective commitment from government, individuals and corporate bodies.

“We must go beyond mere words and move to action in developing the MSME ecosystem. The more we put our hands on deck, the more we can achieve for MSMEs in Nigeria,” he added.

Also speaking, the Head, Retail & SME Banking, NOVA Bank, Esther Obiekwe, said Nigeria’s economic resilience lies not in oil, but in entrepreneurial diversity.

According to Obiekwe, every time an MSME scales, exports a product, or substitutes an import, Nigeria takes a step toward self-sufficiency.

She argued that every MSME empowered represents jobs created, families sustained, and communities transformed.

“Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises represent over 90% of businesses, 80% of employment, and contribute nearly half of our GDP.

“From the roadside tailor to the small manufacturer, from tech start-ups in Yaba to agro-processors in Kano — MSMEs are the lifeblood of our economy. Yet, despite this immense potential, they face daily hurdles — limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, regulatory bottlenecks, and a fragmented market.”

Obiekwe further stated that NOVA Bank is working to ensure no entrepreneur is left behind through financial literacy, mentorship, and accessible credit,

“So the question before us today is not whether MSMEs matter, but how we can help them matter more — through innovation, inclusion, and impact. Innovation is no longer about technology alone. It is about thinking differently — reimagining how we solve local problems with local resources.

“Across Nigeria, MSMEs are redefining creativity in fashion, entrepreneurs are blending tradition with technology to reach global markets. In manufacturing, small producers are using recycled materials to cut costs and improve sustainability.

“In digital services, youth-led startups are automating everyday needs — from logistics to lending. At NOVA Bank, we understand that financial innovation must move at the same pace. That’s why we are investing in digital SME platforms, simplified onboarding, and tailored business advisory services that help entrepreneurs grow smarter — not just bigger.

“Inclusion is the bridge between potential and participation. Women, youth, and informal-sector entrepreneurs represent untapped economic energy. When we include them, we expand national productivity.

“Through financial literacy, mentorship, and accessible credit, NOVA Bank is working to ensure no entrepreneur is left behind.

Our simplified account opening process, gender-sensitive loan products, and partnerships — like this one with SSE Lab — are proof of our belief that opportunity must be democratized. Because inclusion is not charity — it is smart economics.”