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Business Professionals Charge BDSPs To Support MSMEs To Grow Economy

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Business Professionals Charge BDSPs To Support MSMEs To Grow Economyy

“We work with a financial institution such as Sterling Bank Plc to give loans to MSMEs at 9% interest rate– Lawanson

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) have been urged to remain steadfast in providing the necessary business guidance for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to help grow the Nigerian economy.

This proposition was made known by business professionals who attended the maiden edition of the Business Development Service Providers organized by Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University in Lagos on Wednesday.

Speaking at a panel session titled “Understanding What MSMEs Need,” the Country Head-Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, Chidinma Lawanson, noted that BSDPs have a significant role to play in the development of the Nigerian economy.

Lawanson noted that most MSMEs rely on their expertise to take their businesses to the next level urging them to simplify the process such that many MSMEs can benefit. She disclosed that the Foundation had established Young Africa Work Strategy as a platform to unlock 30 million work opportunities that are considered dignified and fulfilling, particularly for youth between the age of 18 and 35 in 8 African countries. Nigeria has a target of 10 million work opportunities that need to be created.

“As an organization, we focus on three priority areas, namely agriculture, the creative economy, and the digital economy. The decision was taken deliberately to focus on these priority areas because we were keen on supporting the youth and MSMEs. The BDSPs have a huge role in upgrading the capacity of entrepreneurs, and if they are well-trained, they will create more SMEs and more jobs”, she added.

While highlighting the partnership between the Foundation and Sterling Bank Plc, she disclosed that the Foundation would continue to work with BDSPs to give adequate support to MSMEs.

“We work with a financial institution such as Sterling Bank Plc to give loans to MSMEs at 9% interest rate. As an organization, we would like to utilize BDSPs to help build the right capacity for MSMEs businesses to grow, she added.”

In his remarks, the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dikko Umaru Radda noted that the agency is working tirelessly to assist small enterprises to grow. He revealed that the agency had engaged several BDSPs to provide requisite capacity for many entrepreneurs in different parts of the country.

Also speaking, the Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bamkole, explained that BDSPs remain crucial to the survival and growth of the Nigerian economy.

Bamkole stressed that the conference was organized to engage BDSPs on the need to set the right standard to measure performance while acquainting themselves with emerging trends and tools needed by small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.

                                                                  

Business

Mayor Of Houston Texas Endorses Fidelity Bank’s Trade Expo (FITCC)

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Mayor Of Houston Texas Endorses Fidelity Bank’s Trade Expo (FITCC)

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Fidelity Bank’s upcoming trade expo tagged, the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC Houston), has received a major boost as the Mayor, City of Houston, Sylvester Turner, has termed it, “A catalyst to support bilateral trade between Nigeria and Houston; and an opportunity for the Houston community and the diaspora to explore emerging trends, forge new partnerships and unlock new possibilities”.

This was made known in a video message recently issued by the mayor. In the one-minute clip obtained by our journalist, Mayor Turner highlighted the several side attractions scheduled for FITCC Houston and encouraged businesses to take advantage of the expo to expand their businesses beyond borders.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, 24, and Wednesday, 25th October 2023 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, Texas 77010. The bank will be hosting exporters, leading businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and regulators operating in the commodity, service, creative, fashion, and FinTech sectors in Nigeria and the United States with the view of promoting Nigeria’s non-oil exports and facilitating integrations to global supply-chain networks.

Watch Mayor Turner’s video here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxKyXhsN9xn/

Register to attend the event at www.fitccusa.com

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eTranzact CEO Bags BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs Award

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Left-Right: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay presenting Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope : MD/CEO, eTranzact Plc the award recognition of the company's stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the Top 25 CEOs Award in Lagos.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact International PLC, has bagged Business Day’s Top 25 CEOs award in recognition of his company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Speaking during the award ceremony last weekend in Lagos, the publisher, Business Day Media Ltd., Mr. Frank Aigbogun stated that the award is more than just a recognition ceremony, but a reward for excellence, innovation, and drive for positive change.

According to the publisher, the eTranzact boss and other awardees have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, resilience and relentless pursuit of a result of success and this remarkable achievement in growing market value within the period of review stands them out as industry leaders, serving as a beacon of inspiration, admiration and respect from their peers and stakeholders alike.

“This has made us gather to celebrate your achievements, passion, and your dedication to excellence. As we recognize the countless hours of hard work, sleepless nights, and sacrifices that go into building and leading a successful business, your resilience in the face of challenges is truly commendable and it is an honour to acknowledge and celebrate your triumphs,” he concluded.

Responding after the award, Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope said the award is a testament to what they have been doing in the financial technology sector within the past 20 years.

Left-Right: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay presenting Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope : MD/CEO, eTranzact Plc the award recognition of the company's stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the Top 25 CEOs Award in Lagos.

Left-Right: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay presenting Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope : MD/CEO, eTranzact Plc the award recognition of the company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the Top 25 CEOs Award in Lagos.etra

Toluwalope said: “This award means a lot to us since we began the journey of transformation as an organisation a couple of years ago.”He believed the board, the management, and the entire team have worked very hard to reimagine strategy, focusing extensively on execution capability. “We have built more partnerships, deepened our collaboration with the government, private sector, with lots of our financial service partners. The quality of products and solutions we offer coupled with the investment we have made in technology infrastructure is the outcome of all we are seeing now in terms of our improvement and top performance.”

“As one of the top fintech companies in the country, having been around for over 20 years, doing great things and setting new standards and creating pioneer products and solutions, these are the things that have created the pillars which we stand on today, which is what is creating this visibility and identification we are seeing and benefiting from,” he said. It is worth noting that, eTranzact under the leadership of Mr. Toluwalope recorded the highest-ever profitability in the 20-year history of the company in its 2022 financial year.

The company is already on the upward trajectory to build on the gains of the performance by continually providing world-class solutions and products to its discerning clients which cuts across both public and private sectors.

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FBNHoldings CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo Bags Outstanding CEO Award

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L- R: Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.

…as BusinessDay honour Top 25 CEOs 

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Nnamdi Okonkwo, Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, has bagged outstanding CEO in the just concluded Top 25 CEOs Awards organized by BusinessDay that was held at the Ballroom of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

L- R: Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.

Left-Right: Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.

In this year’s edition of the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs, the publication recognised 25 Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors of various listed firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) who experienced outstanding financial development and also made important contributions to their respective industries.

FBNHoldings team that graced the event are Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance  FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.

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