Moniepoint Lent Over $700 Million to Nigerian MSMEs in 2025, Most First-Time Borrowers
By Aboki Forex —
Moniepoint disbursed more than $700 million in loans to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in 2025, with 75% of beneficiaries receiving business credit for the first time. The fintech's 2025 Impact Report also shows businesses that got loans recorded a 36% increase in transaction value.
First-time borrowers and women-led businesses
About 75% of merchants who accessed financing through Moniepoint had never obtained a business loan before, the report said. The company added that loan disbursements to women-owned businesses jumped by more than 300%, signaling a stronger push to empower female entrepreneurs.
Moniepoint processes over $250 billion in annual digital payments. Its Point-of-Sale (PoS) network enabled more than 100 million people to make payments across Nigeria during the review period. The ecosystem now supports over 20 million businesses and individuals.
MSMEs and the $32.2 billion financing gap
MSMEs contribute roughly 86% of employment and about half of Nigeria's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the report noted. Yet they face an estimated $32.2 billion financing gap, with micro-enterprises in agriculture and retail facing the highest demand for affordable credit.
Moniepoint said its lending model uses business performance data rather than traditional requirements, making it easier for underserved entrepreneurs to access financing. The company aims to remove long-standing barriers that keep small businesses out of the formal credit market.
This approach is designed to help businesses grow, create jobs and contribute more to Nigeria's economy, according to the fintech.
What this means for the naira and Nigerian businesses
Increased credit access for MSMEs can boost productivity and transaction volumes, which may support economic activity and reduce pressure on the naira by strengthening local production. For Nigerian businesses, the rise in first-time borrowing signals a gradual shift toward formal financing, though the huge gap remains a challenge for policymakers and fintechs alike.