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FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and the leading financial inclusion service provider, has announced its partnership with the Ekiti State Government in launching the Innovation Enterprise Support Fund, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower startups, scale tech-enabled businesses, and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth across the state.
With an emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs, who represent 35% of Nigeria’s startup cohort, the partnership aligns with FirstBank’s longstanding commitment to financial inclusion, SME development, and youth empowerment,
It provides funding, mentorship, and market access to high-potential enterprises, with a focus on strengthening Ekiti’s innovation ecosystem, creating jobs, and supporting youth, women, and underserved communities. Notably, at least 40 percent of the fund has been reserved for female-led enterprises.
Structured as a three-phase programme, it covers ideation, pre-acceleration, and acceleration for about 60 startups. Each enterprise will receive financial support ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦1,200,000, enabling job creation, revenue generation, and market-ready product launches.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, maintained that entrepreneurship and innovation are two core values of FirstBank.
He said: “We believe MSMEs are enablers of economic growth and for 132 years, we have stood beside Nigerian businesses through every phase of growth, transition and transformation. We have remained committed to building stronger business through improved access to finance and capacity building; we created the SME Connect Platform to serve as a digital hub where Nigerian entrepreneurs find the resources to move from vision to value. We are excited about this partnership, and we see more than startups. We see future industry leaders, employers of labour, and perhaps our next big partners.”
FirstBank has been a consistent promoter and supporter of the innovation ecosystem and SMEs in Nigeria, providing notable interventions to help them scale their platforms and businesses. The Bank has designed multiple digital platforms for its SME customers to leverage on for business growth and expansion.
