ADC 2025: Adesina, Oyebanji, others highlight N13trn MSMEs financing gap
By Matthew Denis
Stakeholders at the 2025 Annual Directors' Conference (ADC) hosted by the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD) have highlighted a N13 trillion financing gap for Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Delivering a keynote yesterday at the ADC, Dr. Kola Adeshina, spoke on the theme: "Nigeria and Africa's Leadership Moment: From Boardroom to Nation Building."
Dr. Adeshina underscored the crucial role of the private sector, noting that Nigeria's over 39 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) generate nearly half of the GDP and account for up to 88 per cent of all employment.
He called them the "true engine of our economy," but lamented the significant hurdles they face, including unreliable power and a ₦13 trillion financing gap.
He stressed that Nigeria and Africa will achieve significant progress only when the alignment between public purpose and private capability becomes deliberate, structured, and sustained.
He also urged the organised private sector to actively collaborate with the government in selecting and aligning priorities to enable "big-leap results" in resource allocation for infrastructure, social-impact projects, and human-capital development.
Meanwhile the CIOD has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government, committing to support its initiatives through policy advocacy, capacity building, and promoting governance excellence.
The pledge was made by the President and Chairman of the Council, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, during his opening remark at the Conference.
Mr. Oyebanji noted that the conference theme, “Leading Through Change: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Enterprises,” is timely given the current global economic and policy shifts.
He stressed that leaders are now required to balance profitability with responsibility, growth with inclusion, and innovation with integrity.
“As the recognised voice of directors, we continuously empower our members to contribute meaningfully to their organisations, their communities, and our nation,” he stated.
He reiterated the Institute's deep commitment to supporting the government by promoting governance excellence across all sectors.
The CIoD President highlighted that the Annual Directors' Conference remains the flagship platform for public engagement, bringing together decision-makers from the boardroom, government, academia, and civil society to deliberate on issues shaping the future of business and governance.
Speaking on the domestic landscape, Oyebanji noted that an inclusive business strategy must integrate vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, into productive sectors like renewable energy and fintech.
He referenced the vital role of SMEs, which contribute nearly 50% of Nigeria’s GDP and 75% of employment, according to the NBS and SMEDAN MSME 2021 Survey, as the backbone of inclusive growth.
Despite this potential, he acknowledged persistent challenges such as policy inconsistencies, infrastructure deficits, and limited access to affordable finance.
Addressing these requires stronger public-private partnerships, capacity building, and innovative financing models.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO of First Bank PLC, Olusegun Alebiosu, (represented by Mr. Shehu Sule Aliyu, Executive Director, Public Sector Directorate) stated that leadership skills rely on effective communication, including getting feedback from employees, customers, regulators, and the community.
Mr. Alebiosu noted that in an era where change is the only constant, sustainability is no longer an afterthought but a strategic imperative.
He emphasised that the board level sets the standard for inclusion, sustainability, and accountability, where strategic intent becomes operational reality.
He urged directors to lead from the front by setting the standard for excellence, aligning organisational goals with national priorities, and proactively engaging the government to shape pro-growth policies.
He concluded by reiterating that inclusion is necessary for growth to be meaningful to the underserved, including market women, youth, and SMEs.