One hundred entrepreneurs have received training on how to turn discarded materials into marketable products as Keystone Bank Limited deepens efforts to support Nigeria’s emerging green economy.
The entrepreneurs participated in the “Keystone-FBRA Green SME Master Class”, organised in partnership with the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), with a focus on equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical skills for operating profitable businesses within the circular economy.
The programme exposed participants to hands-on techniques for upcycling rubber and food and beverage packaging, while also addressing critical areas of entrepreneurship, including business management, financial preparedness, taxation and strategies for sustainable business growth.
Keystone Bank said the initiative was part of its broader sustainability efforts aimed at helping businesses convert environmental challenges into economic opportunities.
The lender said the master class was structured to bridge the gap between technical knowledge of waste management and the business expertise entrepreneurs need to transform recycling and upcycling ventures into commercially sustainable enterprises.
“The Master Class aligns with our Waste-to-Wealth sustainability approach, which seeks to empower entrepreneurs to transform environmental challenges into economic opportunities while fostering innovation, job creation and sustainable business practices,” the bank said.
The initiative comes amid growing interest in Nigeria in the economic potential of recycling, reuse and other circular-economy activities. With increasing volumes of waste generated by households, businesses and industries, entrepreneurs are exploring ways to recover discarded materials and create new products while generating income and employment.
Beyond technical training, the participants were introduced to financial products available to SMEs and businesses operating in sustainability-related sectors.
Among the products highlighted were the Eco Cycle Product, MSME Time Loan, MSME Asset Finance and Sustainable Energy Finance.
According to Keystone Bank, its Eco Cycle Product is specifically designed to support businesses operating within the circular economy, providing financing for expansion and other enterprise needs.
“The participants were also introduced to the Bank’s financial solutions, including the Eco Cycle Product, MSME Time Loan, MSME Asset Finance and Sustainable Energy Finance, designed to provide tailored funding and support for businesses at different stages of their growth,” the lender said.
Financial management and access to funding also formed a major component of the training.
The Unit Head, SME Banking, Retail and Digital Banking at Keystone Bank, Martins Ofiegbe, facilitated sessions on financial discipline, revenue generation and preparing businesses to attract financing.
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| L-R: Abimbola Alabi, Head, Learning Academy, Human Capital Management, Keystone Bank; Tamilore Tayo-Oyetibo, Team Member, Alternative Banking, Retail & Digital Banking Group, Keystone Bank; Martins Ofiegbe, Unit Head, SME Banking, Retail & Digital Banking, Keystone Bank; Agharese Onaghaise, Executive Director, FBRA and Akinwunmi Karunwi, Department Head, Regulatory Reporting & Tax Management, Keystone Bank, at the Keystone-FBRA Green SME Master Class, where 100 Green SMEs were equipped with practical skills to transform waste materials into commercially viable products, organised by Keystone Bank and FBRA in Lagos. |
His presentations, titled “Financial Discipline and Revenue Growth Strategies” and “Preparing Business Documentation and Positioning Businesses for Funding,” focused on helping entrepreneurs understand how sound financial practices, proper documentation and effective business positioning can improve their chances of securing finance.
Participants also received guidance on navigating Nigeria’s evolving tax environment.
The Department Head, Regulatory Reporting and Tax Management at Keystone Bank, Akinwunmi Karunwi, led a session titled “Understanding the New Tax Regime: What SMEs Must Know.” The session provided entrepreneurs with an overview of tax obligations and compliance considerations relevant to small and growing businesses.
Other organisations involved in the initiative included the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Zannytecture Recycling Company Limited.
The collaboration brought together financial, regulatory, waste-management and recycling perspectives, reflecting an increasing push to develop entrepreneurs who can operate successfully across the waste-to-value chain.
Keystone Bank said the partnership was designed to strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs in the circular economy by combining technical training with business-development support and information on access to finance.
The initiative also highlights the growing intersection between environmental sustainability and enterprise development in Nigeria, where recycling and the conversion of waste materials into new products are increasingly being viewed not only as environmental interventions but also as sources of jobs, income and business opportunities.
For the participating SMEs, the training provided an opportunity to acquire practical knowledge while gaining greater understanding of the financial, regulatory and managerial requirements involved in building businesses capable of growing beyond small-scale operations.
By linking waste recovery with entrepreneurship and access to finance, the Keystone-FBRA partnership seeks to demonstrate how materials often regarded as waste can become inputs for new products, new businesses and new sources of livelihood.