The company, which launched its Commercial Solutions arm in 2025, is leveraging its 11-year legacy to move beyond retail lending.

By focusing on timely liquidity for high-growth sectors, Zedvance aims to bridge the financing gap that often hampers the scaling of local enterprises.

A Pivot Driven by High-Growth Sectors

The ₦96 billion funding has been deployed across critical pillars of the Nigerian economy, including Oil & Gas, Fintech, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and E-commerce. Through a suite of products, ranging from working capital and invoice discounting to equipment finance, Zedvance is enabling businesses to strengthen operational resilience despite macroeconomic headwinds.

Speaking on the firm’s purpose-built model, Adedayo Amzat, the group managing director of Zedcrest Group, emphasized the intentionality behind their flagship Liquidity Solutions product.

“We are proud of our accomplishments so far, especially the impact we’ve made in sectors that are critical to economic development. For instance, through solar and asset on-lending, we have helped to expand energy access and improve income opportunities for gig workers by financing mobility asset platforms across Nigeria. Because our customers are at the heart of our business, we were intentional about designing our flagship product, ‘Liquidity Solutions’ to allow businesses unlock faster credit delivery across all high-growth sectors. This has proven impactful as we continue to witness our clients record great successes,” Amzat said.

Amzat further noted that these tailored structures, which include inventory and import financing, allow businesses to optimize cash flow and accelerate turnover.

Technology and Strategic Partnerships

The rapid growth of the Commercial Solutions business, achieving one of the highest disbursement rates in the industry, is attributed to its tech-driven, risk-moderated approach.

Ayooluwa Oladimeji, acting executive director, Commercial Solutions, highlighted that the firm’s success in 2025 was fueled by partnerships with key ecosystem players.

“In 2025 alone, Zedvance Commercial Solution business recorded tremendous growth, driven by strong partnerships and a rapidly expanding portfolio. We are proud to have supported a range of businesses including; Shekel Mobility, Tradegrid, Sapphire, CredPal and other ecosystem partners. Beyond these successes, our focus remains on strengthening credit access across Africa’s commercial ecosystems to enable businesses scale with confidence and resilience,” Oladimeji stated.

The 2026 Outlook: ₦250 Billion Target

Building on this momentum, Zedvance has set an ambitious target to disburse over ₦250 billion in 2026. This expansion will target off-grid power, smart devices, agribusiness, manufacturing, and hospitality.

By scaling its reach, the firm aims to solidify its mission of accelerating enterprise growth through broader credit access across Africa’s commercial landscape.

For investors and business owners, Zedvance’s pivot represents the growing importance of non-bank financial institutions in providing the agile capital necessary for industrial expansion when traditional banking channels face liquidity constraints.

Among these technological advancements, disruptive innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), have emerged as pivotal forces shaping various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education, and agriculture.

In Nigeria, a nation rich in diversity and potential, the impact of these innovations is both profound and multifaceted. The progress made in AI and disruptive innovations in Nigeria presents opportunities that can lead to significant development, but also challenges that must be addressed to fully harness their potential.

Disruptive innovations are technologies or processes that significantly alter traditional ways of doing things. They often create new markets and value networks, displacing established market leaders and challenging existing norms.

AI, as a subset of these innovations, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans.

This encompasses machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and computer vision, among other technologies.

The importance of these innovations is increasingly recognized by various stakeholders in Nigeria, including the government, private sector, and academic institutions.

The integration of disruptive innovations and AI offers a promising path toward achieving sustainable development goals in Nigeria.

As the nation grapples with various socio-economic challenges, the need for innovative solutions becomes even more pressing. The government has shown a willingness to adopt these technologies, fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation. AI-related initiatives and research are gaining traction, marking a significant shift in how technology can address local challenges.

Nigeria’s tech ecosystem has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with cities like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt emerging as vibrant tech hubs.

This growth has attracted significant investment in startups and technology-driven solutions, transforming the landscape of entrepreneurship.

The Nigerian Startup Act of 2022 highlights the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, providing a legal framework to support startups and facilitate their growth.

This initiative has created an ecosystem that encourages collaboration between various stakeholders in the tech space.

Nigerian universities and research institutions are increasingly engaging in AI research, reflecting a growing interest in developing local solutions.

The establishment of research centers, such as the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and the Data Science Nigeria, signifies a commitment to fostering a new generation of data scientists and AI specialists. These institutions are equipped to tackle local challenges, ensuring that innovations are relevant and beneficial to the Nigerian context.

This investment in human capital is crucial for the long-term sustainability of AI development in the country.

AI and disruptive innovations are finding applications across various sectors in Nigeria. The agricultural sector is benefitting from AI technologies, such as precision farming and crop monitoring, which help farmers optimize yield and manage resources effectively.

Moreover, the fintech industry in Nigeria is leveraging AI to enhance financial services, improve credit scoring, and mitigate fraud. Companies like Paystack and Flutterwave have transformed payment processing, making it more accessible to businesses and consumers alike. AI-driven credit scoring platforms like CredPal are democratizing access to loans, ensuring that even those without traditional credit histories can secure financing.

In education, AI is being embraced to enhance learning experiences, with edtech startups like Andela and Decagon training the next generation of software developers and data scientists.

The Nigerian government has initiated various programs to promote the adoption of AI and disruptive technologies.

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and the National AI Research Grant Scheme aim to position Nigeria as a global digital economy powerhouse. Collaborations with international organizations are underway to develop frameworks and policies that support AI innovation while ensuring ethical considerations and data protection. These initiatives reflect a proactive approach to creating an environment that nurtures technological advancement.

The integration of AI and disruptive innovations presents substantial economic opportunities for Nigeria. By adopting these technologies, Nigeria can enhance productivity across various sectors, stimulate job creation, and drive economic diversification.

The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that AI could contribute significantly to Africa’s GDP by 2030, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies. This potential for economic growth is particularly critical for a country like Nigeria, which is striving to diversify its economy beyond oil.

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, there is a unique opportunity to harness the potential of young minds in technology and innovation. Investing in education and training programs focused on AI can empower the youth, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven economy.

By fostering a culture of innovation among the younger generation, Nigeria can ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent that drives economic growth and development.

However, despite the significant progress made, Nigeria still faces challenges that must be addressed. Infrastructure deficiencies remain a major hurdle, with the lack of reliable electricity, internet connectivity, and digital infrastructure hindering the widespread adoption of AI and disruptive technologies.

Addressing these issues is crucial to creating an enabling environment for innovation to flourish and ensuring that technological advancements benefit all Nigerians.

Access to funding is another significant barrier for many startups and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. While there has been an increase in venture capital investments, many innovative ideas struggle to secure the necessary funding to scale.

Establishing robust funding mechanisms and support systems for startups is vital for fostering innovation and ensuring that promising ideas can develop into sustainable businesses. Moreover, bridging the skills gap in the tech industry is essential for the successful implementation of AI and disruptive technologies.

As AI continues to evolve, ethical considerations surrounding its use become increasingly important. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability raise concerns that need to be addressed through comprehensive regulatory frameworks.

The Nigerian government must work closely with stakeholders to develop policies that promote ethical AI practices while fostering innovation. Overcoming resistance to change is also crucial, as the adoption of disruptive innovations often faces pushback from established industries and traditional practices.

The journey toward harnessing the potential of disruptive innovations and AI in Nigeria is well underway. By addressing infrastructure deficiencies, fostering a skilled workforce, and creating supportive policies, Nigeria can unlock the transformative power of AI and disruptive technologies.

Embracing innovation will not only drive economic growth but also enhance the quality of life for its citizens. With a commitment to leveraging these technologies for sustainable development, Nigeria can carve out a prominent place in the global digital economy.

By capitalizing on the opportunities presented by AI and disruptive innovations, Nigeria can build a future that is not only technologically advanced but also equitable and prosperous for all its citizens. The path forward is filled with potential, and with the right strategies and investments, Nigeria can emerge as a leader in the African tech landscape, paving the way for a brighter future for its people.

*Wale Bakare is a Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion Advocate, Co-founder/Director of Partnership and Sustainability, Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative

Users can now ride with Bolt and pay later, leveraging the new Ride-Now-Pay-Later service. Accessing this means signing up with CredPal which will underwrite the trip cost.

The goal is to enable Nigerians of all classes, both businesses and individuals, gain access to credit rides without bothering about immediate payments, but can pay by month ends.

Fehintolu Olaogun, CEO and Co-Founder of CredPal believes transportation is one of the daily essentials that a working Nigerian considers when planning a monthly budget, so the CredPal Ride-On was built in line with this, offering a choice of using credit that has been availed to them to better manage their monthly expenses.

Kwaku Ampadu-Manu, Country Sales Manager, Bolt, says the Ride-On product is necessary to help accelerate the adoption of digital payments while providing Bolt riders with an alternative payment option.

“This partnership gives riders access to a much-needed alternative that meets their mobility needs without immediately spending out of pocket, and we are happy to work with CredPal to foster our mission of making our cities for people and not cars,” he said.