Six Nigerian small business owners have each received a N2 million business support grant from Kilsah Consulting.
Elfreda Sheriff, the founder of Kilsah Consulting, said during a speech at the Lagos Small Business Luncheon/Grant Award in 2022 that her organization had discovered that most small businesses lacked access to financing in order to expand.
Mrs Sheriff said: “The idea is to give small businesses access to finance because we know that access to finance is the top obstacle that affects small businesses growth and this is especially for women entrepreneurs who face more obstacles when trying to access finance whether it is through the traditional loan method or any other method. The whole idea is to be a full-fledged small business support firm where we provide them access to finance, training, mentoring and access to the market.”
According to her, the requirement for eligibility for the grant is that the company register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), giving it legal status.
Unwana Esang, Managing Director of Primera Microfinance Bank, gave a keynote address at the Kilsah Consulting 2022 Small Business Luncheon/Grant Award and counseled attendees to persevere in the face of difficulties.
“My message to small business owners is never give up, never stop growing. Always do everything possible to improve the quality of your craft, the quality of your product and service. Continue to build structures around your business. Ensure strong corporate governance because that is what makes you attractive as a business owner to stakeholders whether they are customers, investors or regulators,” he said.
