HQ, a subsidiary of International Workplace Group (IWG), has partnered with The Alternative Bank to make modern and affordable office spaces available to startups and small businesses across Nigeria. The initiative aims to support the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them with work environments equipped with essential facilities.
The partnership was formally announced at the opening of one of HQ’s office spaces in Lekki, Lagos. Speaking at the event, IWG’s Country Manager, Ayo Akinmade, explained that the collaboration with The Alternative Bank is designed to give entrepreneurs access to well-furnished office spaces that can enhance productivity and business growth.
According to Akinmade, the partnership will result in the launch of more than 10 new office spaces across different Nigerian cities before the end of 2026. These offices will come with amenities such as constant electricity, water, internet connectivity, and an enabling business environment. He noted that the ripple effect of this initiative goes beyond the direct beneficiaries. “As these businesses grow and expand, they will hire more people. Those employees will pay taxes, and those taxes will contribute to infrastructure development. So, aside from helping the businesses themselves, we are also contributing to national growth by reducing unemployment and increasing the country’s GDP,” he said.
Akinmade further stated that the decision to partner with The Alternative Bank was influenced by their shared vision of empowering startups. He pointed out that having office spaces alongside accessible banking services offers a major advantage to business owners. “If we create an ecosystem where someone has an office and a bank right beside it, it simplifies their banking needs—for both the company and the employees. That’s the vision we are pursuing,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Products, Digital and Innovation at The Alternative Bank, Mohammed Yunusa, emphasised the importance of building business communities that encourage collaboration and access to finance. He explained that the partnership with HQ is aimed at creating a supportive ecosystem for businesses of all sizes.
“Banking is about bringing people together, solving problems, and creating solutions. The collaboration with IWG, Regus, and HQ gives us the opportunity to create a community where entrepreneurs can easily access financial services. In such a community, we can identify challenges and address them. By providing office spaces and banking in one place, we can serve small businesses, large enterprises, and everything in between,” Yunusa said.
He noted that access to finance remains a major need for businesses, and The Alternative Bank sees the partnership as a way to bridge that gap. “At the heart of every thriving business community is finance, and our role is to make sure these businesses have the support they need to grow,” he added.
Industry analysts believe that the partnership could have a significant impact on Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape. With MSMEs contributing a large percentage of the country’s employment and GDP, initiatives that improve their working conditions and access to finance could help strengthen the economy.
The planned expansion of HQ office spaces is expected to benefit startups in major cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Ibadan, among others. By combining functional office environments with on-site banking services, HQ and The Alternative Bank aim to remove some of the logistical and financial barriers that small businesses face in Nigeria.
