Union Bank of Nigeria has received the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award for 2025 at the Nigeria National SME Business Awards held in Lagos.

The award recognised the bank’s contributions towards supporting the growth and resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises through targeted financial solutions and business support initiatives designed to drive expansion and long-term sustainability.

Speaking while receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Ayokunnumi Abraham described the recognition as an endorsement of Union Bank’s commitment to empowering SMEs and improving access to banking solutions for business owners.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects Union Bank’s continued commitment to helping SMEs grow by making banking simpler, faster, and more accessible,” he said.

According to him, the bank has continued to improve its specialised digital platforms, including Union360, to simplify onboarding processes, improve customer experience and support business growth.

“Through enhancements to our specialised platforms such as Union360, we have meaningfully reduced the time it takes for businesses to come on board and begin transacting.

”These improvements have shortened onboarding, increased digital adoption among our SME customers, and supported the acquisition of new business clients. Our focus remains on delivering practical solutions that help Nigerian businesses thrive,” Abraham added.

The Nigeria National SME Business Awards was organised by ASBON in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment.

The event brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to celebrate organisations and individuals contributing significantly to the development of Nigeria’s SME ecosystem.

Union Bank stated that it remains committed to deepening support for SMEs through customer-focused solutions, digital innovation and business-friendly processes aimed at strengthening enterprise growth across the country.