Abubakar Jimoh, Group CEO of TrustBanc Financial Group, has called for a strategic integration of artificial intelligence into MSME credit assessment to help bridge Nigeria’s estimated $32.2 billion small business credit gap. Speaking at the 2026 Lagos Bankers’ Fair, Jimoh argued that AI can effectively leverage transactional and repayment data to evaluate borrower character and capacity, reducing traditional reliance on physical collateral. Additionally, he urged the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria to introduce dedicated professional certifications in fintech and AI to bridge the talent gap between legacy banking and digital innovation. TrustBanc’s subsidiary, Mango Microfinance Bank, is currently piloting these data-led credit principles through its MangoMonie platform.