SmartCash Payment Service Bank, a subsidiary of Airtel Nigeria, has been honored as the MSME Payment Service Bank of the Year at the prestigious inaugural Nairametrics-The Economic Forum MSME Awards, held at the weekend at the Civic Centre, Lagos.

The award ceremony, organized by Nairametrics, Nigeria’s leading financial news and analysis platform, in conjunction with The Economic Forum, recognized financial services organisations for innovation, impact and the commitment to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) through access to finance in Nigeria.

Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Officer, Smartcash PSB, Tunde kuponiyi, said the award is a motivation to continuously empower small business with access to innovative and secure financial access.

 “We are honoured to be recognized as the MSME Payment Bank of the Year. This award reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering small businesses across Nigeria by providing innovative, accessible, and secure financial solutions. MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, and we believe that by improving their access to digital financial services, we are not only helping them grow but also driving broader economic development. This recognition motivates us to continue in our mission of creating financial inclusion for Nigerian business owners.”

Jude Ndu, CEO of The Economic Forum, lauded SmartCash for its continual improvement and support of the financial sector, stating, “We believe today marks a significant step in empowering MSMEs to overcome the financial inclusion challenges in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the event, Founder, Nairametrics, Ugo Obichukwu, said, “As a media organization, this is our way of contributing to the growth of MSMEs, which are a critical driver and backbone of the Nigerian economy. They Contribute 50% of our GDP and over 80% of our workforce, operating with a spirit of resilience that propels Nigeria forward. The award seeks to recognize and reward innovation and impact, and also inspire and motivate others to support MSMEs.”

The event was attended by prominent guests in the financial sector, including, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson; Executive Director, Zenith Bank, Anthony Akindele Ogunranti; Vice President, Customer Solutions Center, East & West Africa, Mastercard; Kari Tukur, Executive Director, Zenith Bank; Anthony Akindele Ogunranti, Head of Retail Banking at Polaris Bank; Taye Mosaku, among other financial leaders.