The British Council, in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and with support from the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility, has inaugurated the Impact Advisory Group (IAG)—a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at deepening business environment reforms and expanding access to finance for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria.
The initiative was officially launched during the National Roundtable on MSME Financing held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, bringing together key policymakers, financial institutions, development agencies, and private sector players to explore practical strategies for unlocking inclusive and sustainable MSME financing opportunities.
Donna McGowan, Country Director of the British Council, reaffirmed the Council’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s reform ecosystem and promoting inclusive economic growth. She explained that the formation of the IAG underscores the Council’s ongoing mission to empower women and youth with the resources and skills required to succeed as entrepreneurs.
“Women’s economic empowerment is a powerful engine for sustainable growth. Our vision of a peaceful and prosperous world can only materialize when women have equal access to the tools, capital, and opportunities needed to build thriving businesses,” McGowan said.
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Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dabureje Onesi-Lawani, Director of the DG’s Office and Monitoring & Evaluation, lauded the collaboration with the British Council and ICR Facility. He emphasized the importance of consolidating past reform achievements while calling for stronger partnerships to close Nigeria’s estimated ₦3 trillion MSME financing gap.
A key moment during the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SMEDAN and the IAG’s implementing partners—EFInA, FATE Foundation, Sterling One Foundation, Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance, Impact Investors Foundation, and Octoville Development Company.
Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes at the British Council, commended the collective efforts of partners and emphasized the necessity of continued multi-sectoral collaboration to drive inclusive MSME financing nationwide.
Participants at the roundtable pledged to take concrete steps toward strengthening MSME access to finance, promoting gender-responsive financial policies, and enhancing coordination among government institutions, development partners, and the private sector to foster equitable and sustainable economic growth.
