Zedvance Group has announced a major shift in its lending strategy as the financial company moves to focus fully on giving loans to Nigerian businesses and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The company said it is committing 100 per cent of its active loan portfolio to SMEs and critical ecosystem enablers as part of efforts to support business growth, increase production, and reduce financing challenges facing entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the Group Managing Director of Zedvance Group, Adedayo Amzat, during the Zedvance Business Roundtable themed “Unlocking Growth: The Role of Smart Financing in Building Resilient Businesses.”
Speaking at the event, Amzat said the company is moving away from its traditional retail-focused lending structure to a model that prioritises business financing and productive sectors of the economy.
According to him, SMEs remain one of the strongest drivers of economic growth in Nigeria but continue to face major difficulties accessing affordable loans and structured financing.
“The people in this room and the ecosystems they represent are the true drivers of the Nigerian economy,” Amzat said.
He added that many businesses still struggle to access the capital needed to expand operations, increase production capacity, and scale sustainably.
As part of the new direction, Zedvance said it is adopting an “ecosystem-linked financing” model. The strategy focuses on financing businesses operating within structured sectors and value chains including agriculture, energy, healthcare, and automotive distribution.
The company explained that the approach is designed to reduce lending risks while improving access to funding for smaller businesses and operators working within those ecosystems.
Amzat noted that the company’s lending decisions are becoming increasingly data-driven and tied closely to the performance and sustainability of the businesses receiving the loans.
“Our success depends directly on the survival and growth of our customers,” he said.
Also speaking at the roundtable, the Executive Director of Commercial Solutions at Zedvance Finance, Ayooluwa Oladimeji, revealed that the company plans to deploy N500 billion over the next 18 months to support growth-ready enterprises in Nigeria.
According to him, the funding will target businesses with strong growth potential across key sectors of the economy.
Oladimeji said the financing initiative is expected to help businesses scale production, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains at a time when many companies are facing rising operational costs and limited access to credit.
He also stated that Zedvance currently has access to both local and international funding lines, adding that the company’s focus is now on building financing structures that fit the realities of Nigerian businesses.
The event also featured discussions around agriculture, energy, healthcare systems, and macroeconomic reforms affecting businesses in Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the roundtable highlighted persistent challenges around financing, production, distribution, and supply chain inefficiencies, especially for SMEs and businesses operating in critical sectors.
Participants in the agribusiness session stressed the need for financing solutions that directly support farmers, producers, and commodity operators instead of concentrating funding only at the top level of the supply chain.
Energy sector discussions also focused on the impact of subsidy removal and rising operating costs on businesses, with speakers noting that many companies are now turning to asset financing and renewable energy solutions to remain competitive.
The discussions further examined recent economic reforms including exchange rate liberalisation and tax adjustments. While participants acknowledged that businesses are still facing short-term pressure, they noted that improved policy stability could strengthen investor confidence in the long term.
The latest move by Zedvance reflects a growing trend among financial institutions in Nigeria to increase lending support for SMEs as businesses continue to seek funding to survive economic uncertainty and expand operations.
