FirstBank, West Africa’s leading financial institution, has announced the upcoming SMEConnect Webinar, set to hold on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business growth.
Themed “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact,” the webinar is designed to provide SMEs with practical tools and insights to apply AI technologies in scaling operations, enhancing productivity, strengthening customer engagement, and making data-driven business decisions.
Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the session will feature Temitope Odude, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, as a guest speaker, alongside FirstBank’s Abednego Ugwueke, Head of Digital Channels, and Ibidun Adedewe, Head of SME Acquisition & Partnerships. The panel will share globally relevant perspectives on integrating AI into everyday SME operations.
Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, emphasised the strategic role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economy. “SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank, we recognise that their success drives national growth. This webinar strengthens our commitment to innovation and equips business owners with actionable AI insights to scale sustainably,” Ezirim said.
The webinar builds on FirstBank’s AI-enabled financial solutions, including its credit scoring technology that facilitates fast, instant loans to micro-SMEs, with over ₦1 trillion disbursed to support SME growth in recent years. Participants will gain practical guidance on adopting AI to improve efficiency, drive operational excellence, and strengthen competitive advantage.
SMEConnect is one of FirstBank’s signature platforms for knowledge sharing and strategic insights, designed to support SMEs with innovative solutions and business development tools. The initiative demonstrates the bank’s ongoing commitment to fostering financial inclusion and driving the growth of small and medium-sized businesses across Nigeria.
SME owners interested in participating in the webinar can register via FirstBank SMEConnect Webinar Registration. The session promises hands-on strategies for AI integration and long-term business impact.
FirstBank’s consistent recognition as Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Best SME Bank in Africa by TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards, along with the SME Financier of the Year – Nigeria award by The Digital Banker, underscores the institution’s commitment to innovative SME support and financial empowerment.
By hosting AI-focused knowledge platforms like SMEConnect, FirstBank aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools needed to navigate the digital economy, enhance productivity, and achieve scalable growth in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
The initiative aligns with global trends of AI adoption in business, demonstrating FirstBank’s leadership in combining financial expertise with technological innovation to strengthen the SME ecosystem and drive sustainable economic development.
