CIBN PLANS MSME HUBS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FINANCE

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has announced plans to establish dedicated Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises clinics and hubs in partnership with state governments to improve access to bank financing.

The President and Chairman of the Council of CIBN, Dele Alabi, disclosed this in Lagos during the 2026 Stream II Chartered Bankers Induction and Prize Awards Day.

Alabi said the initiative would begin with an MSME forum towards the end of 2026, bringing together banks, business owners, consultants and other stakeholders to identify challenges limiting access to formal financing.

He explained that the forum would be followed by sector-specific clinics in the first quarter of 2027. The clinics are expected to help businesses address issues such as weak corporate governance, inadequate accounting systems and the absence of audited financial statements.

According to Alabi, the programme will eventually lead to the establishment of MSME hubs in collaboration with state governments. The hubs will group businesses according to location and sector while providing an environment that supports their growth.

He said the initiative was designed to create a structured pathway for smaller businesses to become more suitable for bank financing rather than concentrating lending on large corporations.

Alabi noted that MSMEs account for about 46 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, 86 per cent of employment and 96 per cent of businesses.

He said CIBN was working with banks to expand financing to smaller businesses and help them overcome challenges that limit their ability to access credit.