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.
The fund is a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower startups, scale tech-enabled businesses, and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth across the state.
The programme 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 per cent of the fund has been reserved for female-led enterprises.
The Innovation Enterprise Support Fund Initiative is structured as a three-phase programme covering 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.
Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, said “Entrepreneurship and Innovation are two of our core values at FirstBank. 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.”
The partnership aligns with FirstBank’s longstanding commitment to financial inclusion, SME development, and youth empowerment, with an emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs, who represent 35% of Nigeria’s startup cohort.
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 for business growth and expansion.
READ ALSO:
Lagos: Police arrest 23 suspected cult members, recover firearms
Primaries: Accord fixes nomination fees, sets April 25 deadline
NDLEA: 11 drug kingpins bag 254 years in prison
Tinubu assents to 2026 Appropriation Bill, 2025 budget extension
Meeting with Tinubu: What Renewed Hope leaders and ambassadors say
Pat Utomi: Time to take a back seat, By Temitope Ajayi
Trump says Iran war should end ‘soon’, both sides may meet at weekend
Hijab: JAMB warns ad-hoc staff against discrimination
Tinubu assures Nigerians: I won’t let you down
NHA threatens shutdown of unregistered hotels in Nigeria
FCCPC regulation: MTN suspends airtime, data lending services
