By Sodeinde Temidayo David
Stanbic IBTC Holdings in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School, under the bank’s established SME Capacity Building series, has successfully trained about 3,000 entrepreneurs in the country.
The training is part of its commitment to help stimulate and grow a solid and active small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector in Nigeria.
In addition, to further strengthen the initiative, the bank provided beneficiaries with skills and competencies needed to manage their businesses profitably, develop and pitch viable business proposals, maximise their business funds, trade and prepare them for easy access to finance.
The Head of Enterprise Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr Emeka Obasi, while speaking on the training, echoed the bank’s commitment to providing the proper support and solutions for individuals and businesses across the nation to achieve their goals.
“Stanbic IBTC’s commitment to building capacity among enterprises stems from our deep understanding of the important role these enterprises play in providing linkages to industries, employment generation and driving growth of the Nigerian economy,” he said.
He added that participants were trained in essential topics such as understanding your market, which was in three segments; competition analysis, marketing plan, and marketing segmentation.
He further expressed that another topic was based on operation and business model, which gave insights on business plan, consisting of the plan templates, review and development. Also, topics like taxation and marketing, business management, among others were touched.
Mr Obasi also revealed that Stanbic IBTC Bank boasts of highly trained and motivated staff with the requisite expertise in enterprise financing and support.
On his part, the Executive Director, Business and Commercial Clients at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Remy Osuagwu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting enterprises.
According to Mr Osuagwu, “Our key mandate of financial intermediation ensures that we are mindful of providing the right support and solutions for individuals and businesses to achieve their goals and this workshop series represents another opportunity for Stanbic IBTC Bank, to help develop and sharpen participants’ business skills.”
He further explained that as part of its support for SMEs, Stanbic IBTC regularly organises training for enterprise operators.