Entrepreneurs and small business owners who attended the latest edition of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Business Series have been urged to prioritise value alignment when forging partnerships to ensure sustainable growth and progress.
The event, which held at the Bank’s head office on Marina, Lagos, and themed “Stronger Together: Building Powerful Businesses through Partnerships,” focused on empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with practical strategies to build resilient collaborations that can unlock funding opportunities and overcome growth barriers in today’s competitive market.
The session, held on Thursday, and was also streamed live to audiences across Africa featured; Fashion Entrepreneur, Mai Atafo; Beauty Entrepreneur, Dabota Lawson; Real Estate Mogul and Entrepreneur, Wale Ayilara; and Journalist cum TV producer, Peace Hyde as panellists.
They shared actionable insights and personal experiences on forging strategic alliances that go beyond transactional relationships and lead to exponential growth.
Dabota Lawson, who shared her experience on how her business began as a solution to create beauty products that allowed people to feel included, said that she learnt from her mistakes early enough in the business and began to groom partnerships that really added value to her work.
Early on, I chased exposure – sending products to influencers with millions of followers. But visibility doesn’t always equal sales, and so, I shifted focus to value-driven partnerships: labs for product development, logistics for efficiency, and beauty professionals who align with my brand,” Lawson said.
For Peace Hyde, who ventured into the media space following the need to tell the African story as it truly is, there is the need for SMEs to choose partners that add value and align with their business goals.
She said, “Partner with those who believe in your current vision, not just where you could be. Money isn’t everything; sometimes distribution or audience access matters more and choosing the right partners not just the highest bidder can lead to global success.
Wale Ayilara, who ventured into the real-estate business at a young age while on campus, said, “You need to leverage whatever you have. Start small, co-own properties with trusted friends. In university, I pooled funds with classmates to solve accommodation shortages. Real estate is unavoidable – everyone needs it – but risks like scams exist. Research, start modestly, and scale deliberately.”
Mai Atafo, who left a well-paying job to focus on his business because of his passion and vision, advised entrepreneurs to set boundaries to avoid conflicts.
He also highlighted the key role that research plays in building strong businesses.
He said, “Define boundaries early. Choose your lane whether it is artistry or profit and research relentlessly. Assume everything you hear is a lie until you verify it. Inquisitive learning is everything.”
UBA’s group head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, who welcomed the panellists and participants at the event, said the UBA Business Series is a knowledge-sharing platform to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to grow and sustain their businesses.
“We are thrilled to host this transformative event here at UBA house and virtually across the continent, as we empower MSMEs, with practical strategies to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape. At UBA, our commitment to business development and financial inclusion drives this quarterly series, and we’re excited to bring together brilliant minds and to share insights on the power of collaboration.
Group head, Corporate and Marketing Communications, Alero Ladipo, who appreciated the panellists for the insights shared during the session, said, “One thing that is very intriguing about this session is that there’s so much to learn – and it’s not just about feeling excited. It’s about you: taking the lessons shared, researching the information, retaining it, and reminding yourself of it.”
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
