Showcases Pathways for Nigerian Startups to Go Global
March 2026, London – – Verto [1], a global B2B cross-border
payments platform, sponsored an exclusive, invite-only event during
President Tinubu’s UK–Nigeria State Visit to London. The event,
hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth Development and The Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), concentrated
on the theme “Leveraging Youth Development, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship”; and featured a keynote address by Verto’s
Co-Founder and CEO, Ola Oyetayo.
Delivered in partnership with ODBA and the Institute of Directors (IoD),
the event brought together investors, operators, and key stakeholders
from both countries, all committed to supporting Nigeria’s growing
startup ecosystem.
Speakers included:
- Hon. Ayodele Olawande – Minister of Youth Development, Nigeria
- Mr. Charles Odii – Director General, SMEDAN
- Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu – Director General, NASENI
- Hannah Williams – Director, UK Department for Business and Trade
The discussions highlighted the scale and momentum of youth
entrepreneurship and SMEs in Nigeria, while addressing the challenges
founders face. It showcased how government agencies, development
partners, and ecosystem stakeholders are actively creating opportunities
to support Nigerian youth and founders, from access to funding and
capacity building to scaling into global markets.
Commenting on the event, Ola Oyetayo, Co-Founder and CEO of Verto said:
“Verto was founded in London with a clear mission: to connect African
businesses with the world and help them scale globally. In many ways, we
are a living example of the UK–Nigeria relationship in action.
“By enabling SMEs to move money seamlessly across borders, we’re not
only simplifying business operations, but empowering entrepreneurs to
grow beyond local markets and participate fully in the global economy,”
he continued.
Against the backdrop of the enduring UK–Nigeria relationship, the
event underscored the role of cross-border collaboration in driving
sustainable growth, innovation, and investment, reflecting a partnership
built on shared interests and mutual economic benefit.
About Verto
Verto [2] is a global B2B financial technology firm that enables
businesses of all sizes to access enterprise grade cross-border
payments, FX and banking solutions. Using a purposefully built tech
infrastructure and payment rails, businesses can instantly send and
receive money in over 190 countries and convert between 49 currencies.
Today, Verto helps 4000+ businesses from startups, SMEs to large
corporate companies send millions of dollars per year.
