A Mastercard SME Confidence Index survey reports that 81% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria feel confident about the next 12 months. Across the responses highlighted by multiple outlets, SMEs also strongly agree that digital and online payments are important for business growth, with one report stating that all surveyed SMEs (100%) share this view. The findings describe continued growth ambitions among SMEs, alongside specific priorities they see as key to achieving those goals. Besides digital payments, the index points to workforce development and operational digitisation as major areas of focus. Premium Times and The Punch both emphasize training and staff upskilling as top growth priorities, while Premium Times further adds that digitising businesses is also among the leading priorities. Overall, the coverage presents the index as indicating both broad optimism about the year ahead and a consistent alignment around the role of digital payments and capacity building in supporting growth. The articles do not provide details on sampling size or methodology in the excerpts shared.