Why Communication Matters in SEC–SMEDAN Partnership

By Enam Obiosio

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is more than an administrative agreement – it is a bold economic statement. For the first time, Nigeria is officially connecting its 40 million small businesses to the discipline and opportunity of the capital market.

However, while the policy rightly emphasizes access to finance, the real work begins in access to credibility. MSMEs do not just need capital; they need investor confidence – and that confidence is built on transparency, governance, and communication.

This is where Investor Relations (IR) becomes indispensable. For any MSME to transition from informal enterprise to market-listed entity, it must learn to communicate with investors in the language of value, governance, and growth. That means quarterly performance updates, clear business models, and credible projections – not just good products or passion.

At the same time, Public Relations (PR) is the engine that drives public understanding and stakeholder confidence. This MoU needs storytelling – stories of small businesses that successfully leveraged the market to expand production, employ more Nigerians, and transform local economies. Without strategic communication, transformative policy initiatives like this risk becoming silent headlines rather than economic game changers.

In truth, what SEC and SMEDAN have launched is not just a financial framework; it is a trust architecture. And trust is built not by regulation alone but by clear communication, governance culture, and continuous investor engagement.

As Nigeria advances toward its $1 trillion economy vision, IR and PR must be recognized as policy enablers – not postscript activities. They turn economic intention into economic participation.

The SEC – SMEDAN MoU is a defining opportunity to rebuild the communication bridge between Nigeria’s entrepreneurs and its capital market. To make this vision real, we must now institutionalize Investor Relations and Public Communication as essential pillars of MSME growth policy. Let the next phase of implementation move beyond access – toward readiness, visibility, and credibility.

StakeBridge IRPR Consulting stands ready to collaborate with policymakers, regulators, and enterprise leaders to equip MSMEs with the tools, governance culture, and storytelling capacity needed to attract sustainable investment and power Nigeria’s trillion-dollar economy ambition.