Thirty-eight entrepreneurs have graduated from the NCBA SME Training Programme, a powerful initiative aimed at equipping small and medium business owners with practical skills to grow and sustain their enterprises in a competitive market.
The joint undertaking by NCBA Group with Strathmore Business School (SBS), which is delivered under the Strathmore Business School, is the proverbial ‘first step’ in NCBA’s wider SME banking plan. The cohort class comprised of business owners in retails, manufacturing, agribusiness, professional services, logistics, among others.
Empowering Business Growth: NCBA SME Training
The NCBA SME Training Programme seeks to support NCBA customers through a competitive training offering which is both academic and practical and lasts six months. Entrepreneurs receive training on financial administration, operations, marketing, digital transformation, and business model reengineering.
“Through this programme, we aim to scale SME capabilities and offer much more than financial support. We’re here to help businesses thrive in any economic environment,” said Mr. Dennis Njau, Acting Group Director of Retail Banking at NCBA.
Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability
This marks the first graduation under the renewed 10 year partnership NCBA has signed with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF). The partnership agreement has increased the institution’s SME lending from KES 1.5billion to KES 3billion. The funds are directed towards some of the most common challenges faced by SMEs like inadequate access to funds.
Dr. Caesar Mwangi, Executive Dean of Strathmore University Business School underscored the collaborative power of the partnership between the two institutions.
“We are proud of the collaboration we have with NCBA, and its impact on the business community. This programme is designed to deliver meaningful and contextualised learning experiences that address real-world business challenges facing SMEs in Kenya today.”
Who Qualifies for the Next Cohort?
NCBA encourages eligible customers to apply for the next intake beginning on 10th June 2025. To qualify, participants must:
● Be an NCBA customer with an active business account that has been operational
for at least six months.
● Have a business that has been operating for two to three years, employs more
than three people, and has an annual turnover of KES 3 million or more.
● Be the primary decision-maker in the business and the majority shareholder.
An Ongoing Dedication to SME Empowerment
In addition to the NCBA SME Training Programme, the bank partners with Strathmore Business School through the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Centre to provide business boot camps, conferences, trade expos, and thought leadership forums that facilitate long-term SME success.
As more enterprises graduate from these programs, NCBA further cements its role as not just a financier, but a critical ally in Kenya’s SME ecosystem.
