IFC Launches Enterprise Governance Training for SMEs in the Africa Region

Lagos, Nigeria - IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the launch of its Enterprise Governance training modules targeting SMEs in the Africa region which will help entrepreneurs gain the skills needed to succeed in building sustainable businesses that create wealth and jobs.

The governance modules cover several topics such as managing relations, implementing enterprise governance, managing risk and planning for business continuity and have recently been piloted successfully in Nigeria with Diamond Bank. They will be delivered to SMEs through IFC’s Business Edge partners in more than 22 countries in the region.

Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, said, “IFC places high priority on encouraging entrepreneurs to achieve higher performance in a sustainable manner. By helping expose Nigerian smaller businesses to best practices, Enterprise Governance training can help Nigerian companies improve their access to finance that leads to expansion and job creation.”

Business Edge is part of a strategy by IFC to support smaller businesses that also includes helping governments simplify business regulations in areas such as licensing, registration and taxation. To improve SME’s access to finance, IFC collaborates with local financial intermediaries and helps them design affordable and tailored credit and investment solutions.


About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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About Business EdgeTM
IFC Sustainable Business Advisory Services is supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises. Working with partners in Africa, IFC has helped thousands of entrepreneurs access the finance and skills they need to realize their potential. Business Edge™ is a face-to-face IFC training system that helps SMEs more easily access markets by strengthening their management capacity. The training can be customized for specific countries and regions in Africa. For more information, including a full list of our corporate partners and accredited training firms, visit www.businessedge-africa.com