FirstBank is set to host SMEConnect Webinar on AI-Driven Business Growth for Nigerian SMEs.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced plans to host another edition of its SMEConnect Webinar aimed at equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical knowledge on leveraging artificial intelligence to grow their businesses.
The virtual event, scheduled for March 31, 2026, will focus on how SMEs can adopt and integrate Artificial Intelligence into their operations to drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth.
According to the bank, the webinar will be held under the theme “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact.” The session is designed to help entrepreneurs understand how artificial intelligence can enhance productivity, streamline business processes, improve customer engagement, and support smarter data-driven decision-making in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
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The SMEConnect webinar will feature several industry experts, including Temitope Odude, who will serve as the guest speaker. Odude is expected to share global insights on how small businesses can successfully adopt AI technologies and integrate them into daily business operations.
Other speakers lined up for the session include Abednego Ugwueke and Ibidun Adedewe, who will discuss digital banking tools and strategic support available to SMEs.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chuma Ezirim emphasised the importance of SMEs to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He noted that the bank remains committed to supporting business owners through innovative financial solutions and knowledge-sharing platforms.
“SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank we recognise that the economy cannot thrive without them,” Ezirim said.
He added that the bank has demonstrated its commitment to innovation through initiatives such as AI-enabled credit scoring systems that enable faster loan approvals for micro-SMEs. According to him, the bank has disbursed over ₦1 trillion in loans to support customers’ financial needs.
Ezirim encouraged entrepreneurs to participate in the session to gain practical guidance on integrating AI tools into everyday business operations.
The SMEConnect Webinar Series is one of FirstBank’s flagship platforms designed to support SMEs with practical knowledge, capacity building, and strategic insights.
Over the years, the bank has received several recognitions for its support for small businesses, including being named Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Best SME Bank in Africa at the TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards, as well as SME Financier of the Year in Nigeria by The Digital Banker.
SME owners and entrepreneurs interested in participating in the webinar can register through the bank’s official online registration platform.
