How sustainable finance ecosystem enables the growth of SMEs in Nigeria: Driving SMEs Growth

Tilda Mmegwa

Abstract

The concept of ecosystem and its contribution to solving societal problems is widely in discourse, especially in fields of ecology, management and innovation (De Jonge et al., 2012). It refers to a group of interacting entities that depend on each other’s activities. Its popularity came from Ecosystem services (ES) Framework/theory created to analyse social, ecological, and economic benefits that people obtain from nature (Blahna et al., 2017). Other ecosystems have emerged. IFC (2021) created a linear non-theory-based sustainable finance (SF) ecosystem framework. The current research leveraged ES framework/theory and Agency Theory as its theoretical underpinnings to investigate SF practice for growth of SMEs in Nigeria (the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2017), abundant natural resources and large SMEs base).
This paper contributes to the field of entrepreneurship, strategic management, sustainable finance and accounting by developing a conceptual model of SF to enable sustainable businesses growth and socioeconomic development.

Original language	English
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 27 Jun 2025
Event	39th British Academy of Management (BAM) 2025 Conference: On the Border: Management Challenges, Business Opportunities and Disrupted Institutional Contexts - University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom Duration: 1 Sept 2025 → 5 Sept 2025 Conference number: 39 https://www.bam.ac.uk/events-landing/past-conferences/2025-conference.html

Conference

Conference	39th British Academy of Management (BAM) 2025 Conference
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Canterbury
Period	1/09/25 → 5/09/25
Internet address	https://www.bam.ac.uk/events-landing/past-conferences/2025-conference.html

Bibliographical note

SMEs are critical economic actors in emerging nations

Keywords

Sustainable Finance
Ecosystem,
Socioeconomic Growth
SMEs
Sustainable
Sustainability
Responsible Management
Management
Responsible Business
Sustainable Business

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1 Abstract

Entrepreneurship Finance in Africa: The Role of Digital Transformation for Better Entrepreneurship Finance
Mmegwa, T., 27 Sept 2025, (Unpublished).
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

Cite this

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title = "How sustainable finance ecosystem enables the growth of SMEs in Nigeria: Driving SMEs Growth",

abstract = "The concept of ecosystem and its contribution to solving societal problems is widely in discourse, especially in fields of ecology, management and innovation (De Jonge et al., 2012). It refers to a group of interacting entities that depend on each other{\textquoteright}s activities. Its popularity came from Ecosystem services (ES) Framework/theory created to analyse social, ecological, and economic benefits that people obtain from nature (Blahna et al., 2017). Other ecosystems have emerged. IFC (2021) created a linear non-theory-based sustainable finance (SF) ecosystem framework. The current research leveraged ES framework/theory and Agency Theory as its theoretical underpinnings to investigate SF practice for growth of SMEs in Nigeria (the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2017), abundant natural resources and large SMEs base). This paper contributes to the field of entrepreneurship, strategic management, sustainable finance and accounting by developing a conceptual model of SF to enable sustainable businesses growth and socioeconomic development. ",

keywords = "Sustainable Finance, Ecosystem,, Socioeconomic Growth, SMEs, Sustainable, Sustainability, Responsible Management, Management, Responsible Business, Sustainable Business",

author = "Tilda Mmegwa",

note = "SMEs are critical economic actors in emerging nations; 39th British Academy of Management (BAM) 2025 Conference : On the Border: Management Challenges, Business Opportunities and Disrupted Institutional Contexts ; Conference date: 01-09-2025 Through 05-09-2025",

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T2 - 39th British Academy of Management (BAM) 2025 Conference

AU - Mmegwa, Tilda

N1 - Conference code: 39

PY - 2025/6/27

Y1 - 2025/6/27

N2 - The concept of ecosystem and its contribution to solving societal problems is widely in discourse, especially in fields of ecology, management and innovation (De Jonge et al., 2012). It refers to a group of interacting entities that depend on each other’s activities. Its popularity came from Ecosystem services (ES) Framework/theory created to analyse social, ecological, and economic benefits that people obtain from nature (Blahna et al., 2017). Other ecosystems have emerged. IFC (2021) created a linear non-theory-based sustainable finance (SF) ecosystem framework. The current research leveraged ES framework/theory and Agency Theory as its theoretical underpinnings to investigate SF practice for growth of SMEs in Nigeria (the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2017), abundant natural resources and large SMEs base). This paper contributes to the field of entrepreneurship, strategic management, sustainable finance and accounting by developing a conceptual model of SF to enable sustainable businesses growth and socioeconomic development.

AB - The concept of ecosystem and its contribution to solving societal problems is widely in discourse, especially in fields of ecology, management and innovation (De Jonge et al., 2012). It refers to a group of interacting entities that depend on each other’s activities. Its popularity came from Ecosystem services (ES) Framework/theory created to analyse social, ecological, and economic benefits that people obtain from nature (Blahna et al., 2017). Other ecosystems have emerged. IFC (2021) created a linear non-theory-based sustainable finance (SF) ecosystem framework. The current research leveraged ES framework/theory and Agency Theory as its theoretical underpinnings to investigate SF practice for growth of SMEs in Nigeria (the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2017), abundant natural resources and large SMEs base). This paper contributes to the field of entrepreneurship, strategic management, sustainable finance and accounting by developing a conceptual model of SF to enable sustainable businesses growth and socioeconomic development.

KW - Sustainable Finance

KW - Ecosystem,

KW - Socioeconomic Growth

KW - SMEs

KW - Sustainable

KW - Sustainability

KW - Responsible Management

KW - Management

KW - Responsible Business

KW - Sustainable Business

M3 - Abstract

Y2 - 1 September 2025 through 5 September 2025

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