Banking
Scaling up Your Business Now Made Easy with Diamond Business Advantage (DBA)
It is no more news that 66% of small businesses in Nigeria fizzle out before their 10th year according to Small Business Association (SBA) statistics. This has been the trend as a result of so many factors affecting SMEs in Nigeria and if you’re not going to be part of these 66% businesses, then you need to understand the WHY and the solution to sustaining your business.
Stay with me as I expose these to you.
The main challenges confronting the operations of MSMEs in Nigeria as revealed by the survey are access to finance and poor infrastructure, inconsistency in government policies, poor support (business development
services), access to market, multiple taxation and obsolete technology.
So many businesses have died down as a result of lack of vital information in marketing, customer relation, staff management, accounting, etc. and a handful of many closed down as a result of insufficient cash flow. Yes, I understand it is difficult in this part of the world as a startup or a business owner to have access to sufficient information and access to cash flow all at a go, but what if I tell you that you can get all of these at your finger tip – now made easy.
Business growth and strategy are no more rocket science, but information they say, is power and the ability to grasp it with both hands when it’s near is very vital, and right here you have it.
Permit me to introduce you to Diamond Business Advantage (DBA) by Access Bank, an Emerging Business proposition that is designed to equip you with the right tools to give your business the advantage it deserves. This covers a unique financial product (Diamond Business Advantage) tailor made to suit any stage of business, and a range of non-financial services that will help you
❖ Make better decisions
❖ Manage cost
❖ Access finance
❖ Segment your market
❖ Grow your business across local and international markets.
That is not all…
With DBA, you have access to online (over 50 business courses, webinars) and offline business management trainings, networking opportunities, you’ve also got access to business advisory that will help your business growth, and what’s more, the most important, you have the opportunity to Access Funds.
Most of the CBN SME fundings out there are not being accessed by businesses because of lack of proper information, but with DBA, you’re a step closer to getting these funds for your business.
It might also interest you to know that subscribing to DBA gives you access to the Diamond Business Club – a gathering where other DBA members are hosted and given the opportunity to share common interests and interact with one another, providing a platform to network and access new markets.
Your business is just about to get that big buzz and scale massively.
The Diamond Business Advantage is opened to Micro, Small, Medium and Large businesses (MSMEs) with 3 different plans (BASIC, GROWING & ESTABLISHED) – so everyone has got to be on this irrespective of what level your business is right now, and benefit from it as well.
If growing and scaling up your business is important to you, then get on board right now, subscribe to DBA and begin your business expansion journey. You don’t want to miss out on this.
Click HERE right now to begin.
The Diamond Business Advantage is powered by Access Bank, your SME friendly bank.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
