By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership deal has been sealed between First Bank of Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) to jointly host a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), workshop, which focuses on the fundamentals of building a sustainable business.
A statement issued on Sunday disclosed that the two-day workshop holding this week in Lagos is designed to boost participants’ capacity and create value for the MSMEs, given the pivotal role they play in modern economies in the areas of job creation and significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.
According to FirstBank, it had, over the years, emphasised the fact that Africa’s economies could not move forward if MSMEs and budding entrepreneurs were continuously starved of the right knowledge and skills set to grow their businesses.
“As a nation builder, the bank is intensifying support for the MSMEs through a number of initiatives geared towards raising their level of competitiveness in a challenging business environment.
“Key areas of discourse at the workshop will include financial windows available to the MSMEs and how to access them, strategy development and implementation for small businesses, sustainability opportunities for small businesses, and financial management for growing businesses, among others,” the statement disclosed.
The Bank promised to provide facilitators, who are senior members of staff proficient in the business of the MSMEs to proffer practical solutions on business growth and development.
The Deputy Managing Director, FirstBank, Mr Gbenga Shobo, was quoted as saying, “The SME market segment is one of FirstBank’s strategic platforms to stimulate economic development and we would continue to support activities geared towards the sustainable development of the segment.”
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka