The FATE Foundation recently convened entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry experts at its 11th Annual Business Conference in Lagos. The event, themed "Beyond Borders: Transforming MSMEs for Global Competitiveness," took place on September 17-18, 2026, at the Divine Event Center, Obanikoro. The conference aimed to equip Nigerian businesses with the knowledge, capacity, and resources needed to scale sustainably beyond the domestic market.
The two-day event brought together key stakeholders across the entrepreneurship ecosystem to deliberate on challenges limiting MSME growth and explore practical pathways for building resilient, globally competitive businesses. Representing CreditPRO Finance Company Limited, its Managing Director, Dr. Sola Adeyiga, participated as a panel speaker. He addressed critical considerations that influence MSMEs' access to institutional credit.
Dr. Adeyiga highlighted the 5 Cs of Credit: Character, Capacity, Capital, Conditions, and Collateral. He emphasized that profitability alone does not determine whether a business is positioned to secure financing. According to Dr. Adeyiga, profitability alone does not guarantee a business's ability to repay a loan, as repayment ultimately depends on the availability and timing of cash flow.
Dr. Adeyiga further emphasized that lenders assess how effectively a business generates and manages cash, meets existing obligations, maintains financial discipline, and responds to changing market conditions. He noted that while collateral can provide security for a facility, it does not substitute for a viable business model or adequate repayment capacity.
CreditPRO's participation at the conference reflects its commitment to supporting the development and growth of Nigerian MSMEs. The company was admitted earlier this year into the FATE School Transformers Programme, an initiative of FATE Foundation focused on supporting growth-stage enterprises. CreditPRO also supported the conference as a corporate sponsor.
The discussion reinforced the importance of building creditworthiness before financing is needed. MSMEs were encouraged to maintain proper financial records, separate personal and business finances, route business transactions through formal accounts, protect their credit history, and maintain transparent communication with financial institutions.
As Nigerian businesses pursue greater competitiveness and opportunities beyond domestic markets, CreditPRO emphasized that being finance-ready begins with the way a business is managed every day. The company's participation in the conference demonstrates its dedication to helping MSMEs achieve their growth potential and become globally competitive.
Key points
- CreditPRO's Managing Director, Dr. Sola Adeyiga, emphasized that profitability alone does not guarantee a business's ability to repay a loan.
- The FATE Foundation's 11th Annual Business Conference focused on strategies for Nigerian MSMEs to achieve global competitiveness.
- CreditPRO supports the development and growth of Nigerian MSMEs through initiatives like the FATE School Transformers Programme.
