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Firstbank’s SMEConnect Platform Continues To Help Businesses Thrive

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Small Medium Enterprises are the ultimate drivers of the economy, and when they are under-utilized and not given the much-needed support to thrive, it has an overriding effect on the overall growth and development of a Nation. In a demonstration of its continuous commitment to National development, FirstBank’s ‘’SMEConnect’ continues to create an atmosphere for SMEs to build, grow and scale. 

 

SMEConnect is FirstBank’s value proposition geared towards building the capacity of SMEs to deliver business goals and contribute even more significantly to national development. It is a digital platform through which SMEs can access the bank’s plethora of services. The portal is designed to help SMEs access the Bank’s unique propositions and identify various gaps that hinder their business growth. With FirstBank’s over 127 years of impacting the economy, the portal helps proffer tailored services solutions, whilst creating avenues for business improvement, profitability, and sustainability. Currently, there are 4,225 registered businesses and 20,880 users on the platform.

 

SMEConnect was birthed out of the need to bridge the gap and connect SMEs to resources, products, and services that will enable them to overcome the challenges of poor business structures, lack of infrastructure, poor market penetration, limited access to information and professional services, inconsistent government policies amongst others, hence the bank has identified seven strategic pillars considered essential for the sustainability and growth of SMEs. 

 

The pillars are: connect to infrastructure, connect to talent, capacity building, connect to policy and regulation, connect to resources, connect to market as well as connect to finance to further reinforce the Bank’s role in putting SMEs at an advantage whilst contributing to national growth and development. SMEConnect serves as a medium of connecting SMEs to these solutions from the comfort of their offices, homes, and anywhere they are in the world. The uniqueness of the platform lies in the fact that these offerings are either free or substantially discounted.

 

The unique selling proposition of SMEConnect is the congregation of value-adding products & services on one platform for easy access and at rates (prices) that are competitive and (in most cases) discounted. The SMEConnect has special features such as the Business Diagnostic tool which has been specifically developed to evaluate one’s business and give one a business effectiveness score, it goes further to tell one what one has done well and what one needs to improve on. One is also able to request a business coach on the portal and get up to a 34% discount.

 

SMEs can also have access to free business advisory services through the business diagnostic tool, they can showcase their products and services at no cost at all, interact with their customers and other SMEs alike, Connect to free capacity building workshops, seminars and webinars and get regular updates on policies and regulations impacting SMEs. All these interesting features combine to make FirstBank the first-choice bank amongst SMEs.

 

Other features of the SMEConnect platform include enlightening blog articles that provide tips on growing businesses, e-newsletters, and useful webinar content.

 

What are the pre-requisites for SMEs to be listed on the portal?

 

SMEs can join the SMEConnect community by visiting https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/ to sign up seamlessly for free. Users only need to enter their email addresses and create a password to get started. Businesses must be registered and have a corporate account with FirstBank to list their business on the business hub and access all the beneficial offerings on SMEConnect. 

 

Furthermore, individuals and businesses can register to be users of SMEConnect without listing their business. SMEConnect is open to businesses operating across all sectors. 

 

Businesses who wish to list their businesses on the business hub in addition to being registered and having a corporate account with FirstBank must accept the terms and conditions of the platform.

 

There are some exceptions, however, businesses that deal in cryptocurrencies, sports betting, and other similar business ventures that do not align with the Bank’s T&Cs (https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/terms)are currently not allowed to be listed on the business hub. 

Visit https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/  to sign-up and enjoy the rich benefits the FirstBank SMEConnect offers.

 

Culled from Nairametrics

BIG STORY

BREAKING: GTCO Becomes First Banking Stock To Exceed N100 On NGX

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company has achieved a strong mid-market showing during the July 16, 2025, trading session, surpassing the N100 milestone.

This makes GTCO the first banking stock listed under the NGX Banking Index to cross the N100 benchmark, while Stanbic IBTC Holdings remained just below at N99.

The upward movement aligns with the broader positive sentiment in the banking sector, where the NGX Banking Index has gained over 22% so far in July.

The development follows GTCO’s recent dual listing, which involved 2.29 billion ordinary shares being listed on the London Stock Exchange on July 9, 2025, and another 2.28 billion shares added to the Nigerian Exchange the next day.

The stock’s rise appears driven by investor response to its cross-border listing and its strong Q1 2024 financial performance. Month-to-date, GTCO has posted a gain exceeding 27%.

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BIG STORY

Marketers Protest As Dangote Moves To Crash Cooking Gas Price

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President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has revealed his intention to slash the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas. He further stated that if current distributors resist the price reduction, he will begin selling directly to consumers.

Industry players, however, have opposed the proposal, accusing Dangote of attempting to dominate the LPG market. They voiced their concerns on Monday, fearing the possibility of monopolistic control.

During a recent inspection of his refinery by both local and international visitors, Dangote pointed out that the current cost of cooking gas is too high and beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians who rely on firewood.

He mentioned that the refinery is now capable of producing 22,000 tonnes of LPG daily, and efforts are underway to increase output for local distribution, especially as more Nigerians adopt gas for cooking.

Addressing members of the Lagos Business School CGEO Africa at his Lekki refinery, Dangote stated, “The one that we didn’t write, which you must have seen, is LPG. Currently, we do LPG of about 2,000 tonnes per day. You know Nigeria is gradually moving to the usage of LPG. But I believe it is expensive, but right now we’re trying to bring down the price and make it cheaper.”

Dangote cautioned that “if the distributors are not trying to bring it down, we’ll go directly and sell to the consumers, so that people will now transit from firewood or kerosene to LPG for cooking.”

It was earlier reported that Dangote plans to begin nationwide direct distribution of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel in August, using 4,000 CNG-powered buses.

At present, cooking gas sells for between N1,000 and N1,300 per kilogramme. Dangote aims to reduce this to make it more accessible.

Operators kick

LPG market stakeholders appear displeased with Dangote’s plan to shake up the sector.

In an interview with our correspondent, the former Chairman of the LPG and Natural Gas Downstream Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Godwin Okoduwa, labelled the move monopolistic.

Okoduwa stressed that Dangote must acknowledge the efforts of investors who expanded the LPG market from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1 million metric tonnes by 2022. He emphasized the importance of cooperation.

“I think it’s monopolistic. I think a market should be protected to encourage growth. The LPG industry in Nigeria grew from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1.3 million tonnes in 2022. That was done by collaboration — collaboration with the Federal Government, the NLNG, and offtakers. Everything was done in collaboration. It grew from 70,000 to 250 to 800, and now over a million,” Okoduwa said.

He argued that monopoly cannot drive growth, but collaboration can. “Today, we are just under 5kg or 6kg per capita consumption in terms of LPG. Other countries are doing much more. South Africa is doing double digits, Morocco and Tunisia are doing double digits. We can do much more.

“So, we should, as an industry and as a country, focus on how to grow the LPG industry and not allow someone (to frustrate the players). Yes, he has invested; yes, it’s a capital economy, but he should not be allowed to frustrate the players.

“There are people who have spent money, spent resources, even business and development, and someone just comes in to reap from the work that has been done. I’m sure he wouldn’t have built if there had not been an existing market. The work has been done, he should respect the market and let us grow. It shouldn’t be a zero-sum strategy. It should be collaborative,” he said.

He recommended that despite having a significant advantage, Dangote should pursue collaboration.

“My advice to him is that the pie can be bigger. The Nigerian market is about 1.3 million tonnes. The Nigerian LPG market can be 5 million tonnes. He should work towards collaboration rather than competition, because at the end of the day, everybody benefits,” he added.

When told that Dangote’s main goal is to lower gas prices so everyone can afford it and reduce firewood use, Okoduwa responded, “I have news for him. He should go to the Northeast, where you have the least consumption of LPG. He should go to the Northeast and start developing the LPG infrastructure there. I think we will tell him thank you for that.”

In a similar vein, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Bassey Essien, expressed doubt about Dangote’s ability to sell gas directly to consumers or significantly reduce prices.

“I am saying that it’s unrealistic. What is the position with PMS? Has the refinery been able to sell petrol directly to you and me into our cars at a very cheap rate?” Essien asked.

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BIG STORY

Aliko Dangote Submits Paperwork To Build Biggest Seaport In Nigeria

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Aliko Dangote, who leads the Dangote Group, has revealed plans to construct what he describes as the “biggest, deepest seaport in Nigeria”.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Dangote mentioned that he has submitted an application to initiate development of the planned Atlantic seaport located in Olokola, Ogun state.

He explained that the project is aimed at simplifying the export process for products — including liquefied natural gas (LPG) — and will contribute to the rapid expansion of his industrial ventures.

Dangote noted that the initiative “to build the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria” progressed after submitting the necessary documentation for approval last month.

“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I think doing this will encourage other entrepreneurs to come into it,” he said.

The proposed port marks Dangote’s return to the same location where he had once halted plans for a refinery and fertiliser plant due to disagreements with local authorities.

Back in March, Dangote stated he had resumed construction in Ogun state “because of His Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun”.

In a separate interview, Devakumar Edwin, Dangote Group’s vice-president, disclosed that the company also intends to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Lagos.

He added that this effort will involve laying pipelines from the Niger Delta to the coast.

“We want to do a major project to bring more gas than what Nigeria LNG is doing today,” he said.

“We know where there is a lot of gas, so run a pipeline all through and then bring it to the shore.”

On May 26, Dangote announced that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) aims to generate $7 million in daily fertiliser sales within the next two years.

Roughly a month later, the company declared that it would commence nationwide distribution of diesel and premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, starting August 15.

The organisation also revealed that it has procured 4,000 new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered tankers to improve its fuel delivery network across the country.

On June 27, Dangote further stated that the continent will become self-reliant in fertiliser production within 40 months.

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