Fortis Mobilizes Support for MSMEs with Technology-Driven Transformation and First MSME Summit

Fortis Mobile Money has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), calling them the backbone of the country’s economy. One of Nigeria’s earliest licensed mobile money operators, the firm said small businesses are central to its long-term strategy as it transitions into a digitally driven, technology-first platform.

A senior Fortis executive stated, “MSMEs have always been the life force of Nigeria’s real economy. Their ambition, capacity, and creativity are not in question. What they need is access—access to finance, tools, markets, and a reliable digital payment infrastructure. That is where Fortis chooses to stand.”

In a statement, Fortis highlighted that MSMEs account for more than 90% of registered businesses and contribute nearly half of Nigeria’s GDP. Yet, many still face challenges including limited financing, weak digital infrastructure, and reliance on informal systems. The company’s renewed focus builds on a decade of delivering social and humanitarian payments to financially excluded communities and now emphasizes a technology-driven model to provide accessible digital payments, merchant tools, cooperative savings structures, and targeted financial products.

The firm said this transformation aims to address everyday challenges for MSMEs, such as fragmented collections, cash-heavy operations, limited access to working capital, and minimal financial visibility.

To deepen engagement, Fortis is hosting its first-ever MSME Summit—described as a “marketplace of ideas” and a collaborative forum to reimagine MSME finance in Nigeria. The event will bring together small business owners, cooperatives, industry leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss digital payments, data-driven lending, cooperative finance, agent networks, and emerging technologies to accelerate MSME growth. Fortis will also showcase its expanding suite of MSME-focused products designed to improve collections, expand credit access, and integrate informal enterprises into the formal economy.

“We see MSMEs as partners. Their success is our success. Their resilience is our resilience. The Fortis MSME Summit will allow us to listen, collaborate, and co-create solutions that respond directly to the needs of Nigeria’s real economy,” the executive added.

The summit, scheduled for 21 November 2025 at The Wells Carlton Hotels, Abuja, marks a strategic milestone in Fortis’ transformation amid economic uncertainty and rising business costs. The company emphasized that supporting MSMEs “is not optional; it is foundational,” positioning itself as more than a payments platform but as a development partner for the millions of MSMEs driving Nigeria’s future.