President Tinubu Pledges Support For FlutterwaveOn SME Growth, Digital Economy Expansion

In a significant move to drive economic growth and de­velopment, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a strate­gic meeting with the leadership of Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology compa­ny. The discussions focused on fostering youth empowerment, small and medium-sized enter­prise (SME) development, and the expansion of Nigeria’s dig­ital economy.

This meeting builds on the Federal Ministry of Youth De­velopment’s recent Memoran­dum of Understanding (MoU) with Flutterwave, aimed at en­hancing mentorship programs, providing access to start-up funding, and promoting skill development for young Nige­rians. The partnership aligns with President Tinubu’s Re­newed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.

Through this collabora­tion, young entrepreneurs and SMEs across Nigeria will have increased access to business funding, mentorship programs, and technical and leadership training provided through key agencies such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Citizenship and Lead­ership Training Centre (CLTC). By leveraging digital innovation, the partnership aims to promote sustainable employment, foster the growth of youth-led busi­nesses, and strengthen Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Hon. Ayo­dele Olawande, emphasised the importance of this initiative in fulfilling the Renewed Hope Agenda and highlighted the roles of the NYSC and CLTC in delivering training and men­torship opportunities that will equip young Nigerians with essential entrepreneurial skills.

Further supporting the devel­opment of small businesses, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has partnered with Flutterwave to provide micro, small, and medium-sized enter­prises (MSMEs) with advanced digital payment solutions, improved access to financial services, and capacity-building programs. This partnership will enable MSMEs to accept various payment methods, in­cluding mobile wallets, card payments, and bank transfers, while gaining access to working capital loans and credit facilities to foster business sustainability. Charles Odii, Director-General and CEO of SMEDAN, noted that the collaboration strength­ens the agency’s mission to help Nigerian businesses compete more effectively in the global market.

To further enhance Nige­ria’s digital economy, the Na­tional Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has engaged Flutterwave to lead several digital transformation initiatives. Kashifu Inuwa Ab­dullahi, Director-General and CEO of NITDA, underscored the importance of accelerating digital adoption among SMEs, recognizing that increased ac­cess to digital infrastructure is critical for economic growth.

Olugbenga Agboola, Found­er and CEO of Flutterwave, reaffirmed the company’s com­mitment to supporting Nige­rian youth and SMEs through technology-driven solutions that drive long-term economic impact. He emphasized the sig­nificance of public-private part­nerships in fostering innovation and sustainable growth.

President Bola Ahmed Tinu­bu concluded the meeting by highlighting the vital role of collaborative efforts in empow­ering Nigeria’s youth and busi­ness community. He reiterated his administration’s dedication to equipping the next generation with the necessary tools to suc­ceed in a competitive and rapidly evolving global economy.