Nigeria’s leading financial literacy news platform- Nairametrics in partnership with the Economic Forum series has unveiled the finalist for its maiden Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) award night scheduled to hold on the 27th of September, 2024.
The event is billed to hold at the Civic Centre towers along Ozumba-Mbadiwe avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The award ceremony will honour financial services organisations from banks to insurance companies, fintechs etc that have made real impact on MSMEs in Nigeria and ensured their sustenance.
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributes in no small measure to Nigeria’s economy in terms of GDP and job creation. Despite losing over three million businesses in the past years, the contribution of the MSME sector to employment increased by 3.5%.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), MSMEs contribute around 48% to GDP and around 80% of total employment in the country. Hence, organisation who foster the activities of these businesses ought to be recognised.
The Nairametrics MSME award is split into 18 categories from the MSME bank of the year to financial service company offering the best solution to Decentralised Financing (DFIs) to MSMEs.
Nominations for the awards were meticulously and objectively selected by a panel of experts well versed in the financial services and business landscape in Nigeria and the activities of companies nominated.
The selection criteria focused on MSMEs that have actively promoted financial inclusion through their business practices, the products or services they provide, or their efforts to engage underserved communities.
The following are award categories and nominations
Award for MSME Bank of the Year:
- Sterling Bank
- Access Bank
- Wema Bank
Award for Best in MSME Lending (Bank)
- Wema Bank
- Polaris Bank
- Sterling Bank
Award for MSME Microfinance Bank of the Year:
- LAPO MFB
- VFD
- Moniepoint
Award for MSME FinTech Platform of the Year:
- MasterCard
- Flutterwave
- Interswitch
MSME Payment Service Bank (PSB) of the Year:
- MOMO PSB
- Airtel Smartcash
- 9PSB
Award for Best MSME Payment/Remittance Platform:
- Palmpay
- Hydrogen Payment
- Opay
Award for Best MSME Insurance Company of the Year:
- AXA Mansard
- Heirs Insurance
- AIICO
Award for Best in MSME Partnership and Collaboration (CSR Initiative):
- Sterling Bank
- IEI
- Moniepoint
Award for Best MSME Trade Finance:
- United Bank of Africa
- Eco Bank
- Zenith Bank
Award for Best MSME Agri-finance:
- FCMB
- Fidelity Bank
- Unity Bank
Award for Best in Payment Security, Data Protection & Fraud Prevention for MSMEs:
- Remita
- Paystack
- eTranzact
Award for Best in MSME Non-Interest Banking:
- JAIZ Bank
- Alternate Bank
- Lotus Bank
Award for Best in MSME Finance for Women & Youth Entrepreneurship:
- Wema Bank
- FCMB
- Access Bank
Award for Best in MSME Financial Inclusion (FinTech Card):
- MasterCard
- Visa
- Verve
Award for Best in MSME Financial Inclusion (Microfinance Bank):
- LAPO MFB
- VFD
- Moniepoint
Award for Best in MSME Financial Inclusion (Bank):
- Sterling Bank
- Access Bank
- FCMB
Award for Best in MSME Financial Inclusion (Non-interest Bank)
- Lotus Bank
- Jaiz Bank
- The Alternate Bank
Award for Best in MSME Financial Inclusion (DFI):
- DBN
- Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)
- BoI-ITC (BoI Investment & Trust Company Ltd
