SME Growth & Waste Skills (Nigeria): Nestlé Nigeria’s MYOWBU programme trained mobile beverage operators and attendants to run their carts like real businesses—focusing on disciplined finances, customer service, hygiene and responsible waste disposal. Digital IDs & Inclusion (Africa): New assessments say interoperable digital identity plus payment infrastructure is driving financial inclusion gains in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda, cutting onboarding costs and helping small businesses access banking and credit. Secured Lending Boost (Liberia): Liberia’s Central Bank launched an Enhanced Collateral Registry to speed up collateral registration and verification, aiming to unlock credit for entrepreneurs and small firms. Green Manufacturing Finance (Kenya): SBM Bank Kenya and Safer Power backed USD 17m for green energy manufacturing and a factory, supporting local production of power infrastructure. SME Credit Readiness (Africa): A spotlight on SME banking needs highlights that firms want end-to-end platforms (inventory, POS, payroll) and smoother cash-to-digital payments with lower friction. Trade & Standards (Kenya): Kenya will host ARSO’s permanent headquarters after land is pledged in Nairobi, aiming to reduce standards-related barriers to intra-Africa trade. Local Market Access (Malawi): Malawi’s trade ministry praised SMEs and agri-coops at the National Agriculture Fair for value-added products with strong packaging and hygiene—positioning them for regional and international markets. Job Creation & Local Content (Nigeria): MTN Nigeria said it has created over 2m jobs via partners and agents and now has 99.85% Nigerian workforce. SME Pitch Win (South Africa): Soshanguve’s Maduwa Paint World won Standard Bank’s R1m Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge, scaling from a small shack into coatings manufacturing.