Adetoun: How To Achieve Financial Breakthrough In 2026

As Nigeria’s SME sector navigates economic pressures and funding gaps, Auto Bucks Lenders Limited continues to position itself as a key enabler of business growth under the leadership of its chief executive officer, Adetoun Olasunkanmi who is a graduate of Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Covenant University, Ogun State, and leads the company’s strategic growth and risk management initiatives.

Operating as a subsidiary of the Alert Group, Auto Bucks serves as the Group’s dedicated SME lending arm and works in close partnership with Alert Microfinance Bank to expand access to structured financing nationwide.

Success Story

Adetoun stated, “we target business owners engaged in various sectors such as trade, buying and selling, manufacturing, and production. Our focus is on lending to legitimate business entities that are actively seeking funds to grow and sustain their operations. Our minimum loan offerings are structured to accommodate different market needs: we provide N2 million for businesses located outside Lagos and N5 million for those within Lagos. For larger corporations or entities, the maximum loan amount can reach up to N250 million.”

Projection

Looking ahead to the year 2026, Adetoun noted that “we are committed to significant expansion. Currently, our operations are concentrated in Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, and the Federal Capital Territory (AbujWe. By the end of 2026, we aim to extend our footprint to at least four additional regions, with particular attention to areas like Akure, as well as increased outreach in northern Nigeria and potential expansion towards the southern regions.”

In terms of financial performance, she said, “We closed the year 2024 with a gross loan portfolio of approximately N8 billion. This impressive figure grew by over 100 per cent in 2025, culminating in a portfolio of around N19 billion. For 2026, we have set an ambitious target of disbursing N50 billion, allowing us to reach a broader audience and enhance our market penetration, which is crucial for supporting SMEs in their growth trajectories.

Challenges

She noted that “despite our successes, the microfinance industry poses unique challenges, with the foremost being credit losses. It is nearly impossible to operate in this sector without experiencing some level of loss. However, we are proud of our performance: as of December 2025, our portfolio at risk (PAR) was 3.99 per cent, significantly below the CBN’s acceptable threshold for MFB of five per cent. This benchmark illustrates our commitment to maintaining a robust portfolio, and we continually strive to improve our risk management processes.

“To achieve this, we have fortified our risk management team to address potential issues right from the loan origination stage. We undertake extensive due diligence during this phase because the industry standard for portfolio at risk is a concerning 22 per cent.

By staying below that average, we have safeguarded our profits and ensured our sustainability.

“Another challenge frequently encountered in the business sector is prioritising, essentially, maintaining sufficient cash flow to fund operations. To mitigate this, we strategically leverage the resources of our parent group, providing us access to multiple funding pools.”

Advice To SMEs

For SMEs aspiring to utilise significantly in 2026, my key advice is to prioritise comprehensive financial accountability. A recurring issue we have observed is inadequate record-keeping. When a business lacks proper documentation, identifying profit leaks becomes increasingly difficult. I strongly recommend utilising accounting software to track financial transactions and employing auditors to review revenue streams. This diligent approach to monitoring can help businesses identify trends and prevent unnecessary expenditure from eroding profits. By understanding their financial landscape, SMEs can make informed decisions, paving the way for sustainable growth and success.