Connect with us

Economy

SMEDAN Plans Microfinance Bank for MSMEs 2021

Published

on

SMEDAN

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has disclosed that it would soon establish a microfinance bank to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

The Director-General/Chief Executive of SMEDAN, Mr Dikko Radda, made this known during the week in Abuja at a media programme for the Commerce and Industry Correspondent Association of Nigeria (CICAN).

He also confirmed that the ownership of the proposed bank will be extended to some major players in the nation’s MSMEs sector, noting that SMEDAN was already in talks with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) towards obtaining an operating licence for the financial institution.

Mr Radda explained that the need to set up a microfinance bank for the MSMEs became imperative as it was becoming increasingly difficult for operators to attract funding from conventional banks.

He described the interest rate obtainable from normal microfinance banks as too high for most MSMEs, saying with such a high lending rate, it would be practically impossible for businesses to survive in Nigeria.

The SMEDAN boss said barring any change in plans, the bank would become operational by next year and would be owned by SMEDAN and MSME operators.

“We are in the process of establishing our own microfinance bank that will enable the Nigerian MSMEs to have direct access to credit with a very simplified and modern means of achieving that.

“The interest rate of the conventional banks is unbearable because it is over 20 per cent and we are working hard to establish a microfinance bank,” he said.

Speaking further, the SMEDAN boss said the agency has also partnered with the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to provide matching funds for MSMEs, adding the move was part of SMEDAN’s efforts to reposition the sub-sector for better performance.

He said the matching fund would enable SMEDAN and the Bank of Agriculture to contribute in a certain proportion for MSME financing at a single-digit interest rate.

His words: “We have gone into an MoU with the Bank of Agriculture to provide a Matching Fund. SMEDAN will contribute a certain amount and then the Bank of Agriculture will also provide a certain amount of money to enable us to provide loans to MSMEs.

“This is bearing in mind the fact that one of the major challenges of MSMEs is funding and most of the requirements provided by the commercial and even development banks in Nigeria are very high for the MSME to achieve.

“So we will provide this matching fund so that we equally reduce the requirements to enable MSMEs benefit from that fund and SMEDAN has forfeited its own part of interest from the money it is contributing as a matching fund to bring down the interest rate to single digit. This will enable us to help the MSME make up the challenge under the facility.”

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Economy

Secure Electronic Technology Seeks Approval to Merge Every Four Shares Into One

Published

on

Secure Electronic Technology

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Secure Electronic Technology (SET) Plc is planning to reconstruct its shares at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited by merging four stocks into one.

However, this exercise is subject to the approval of shareholders of the company and the board is proposing an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on or before April 17, 2025.

Business Post reports that the decision to reconstruct the shares of the organisation was reached at the board meeting of the firm on Friday, MArch 7, 2025.

In a notice to the stock exchange, SET Plc said it was agreed that the proposed share reconstruction and recapitalisation of the company shall be by way of one or a combination of the following; an offer for subscription, rights offering or private placement, upon terms agreed by both parties under the definitive agreement.

It further said, “The issued and share capital of the company be reduced from N2,815,770,000, represented by 1,407,885,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each, subject to the approval of the Federal High Court, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and relevant regulatory authorities.”

“This restructuring share result in the cancellation of 4,223,655,000 units of shares and the portion of the share capital cancelled, being valued at N2,111,827,500 be transferred to a special reconstruction reserve,” it noted.

The disclosure also said, “There shall be a proportional upward adjustment in the share price of SET on the NGX to be reflected after the conversion, so that the value of one converted share shall be equal to the market price of four pre-reconstruction shares, and at the end of the reconstruction, SET market capitalisation and each shareholder’s percentage holding shall remain unchanged.”

The company emphasised that it would “consolidate its issued shares at a basis of 1 for 4 ratio, meaning every four shares of SET Plc currently held by a shareholder shall be converted to one share and shareholdings that result in fractional shares post-reconstruction shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.”

It was disclosed that this exercise was suggested by Gamma Civic Limited, a part of Gamma Group, a company listed on the Mauritius Stock Exchange and represented by Cruzan Investment Limited, a company incorporated in Nigerian under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.

Continue Reading

Economy

FrieslandCampina Wamco Weakens NASD OTC Exchange by 0.06%

Published

on

FrieslandCampina WAMCO

By Adedapo Adesanya

FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc brought down the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.06 per cent on Wednesday, March 12.

Business Post reports that the share price of FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc slumped by N1.26 during the session to N37.45 per unit from the preceding day’s N38.71 per unit.

However, Geo-Fluids Plc gained 27 Kobo to trade at N2.95 per share versus Tuesday’s closing price of N2.68 per unit, and First Trust Microfinance Bank Plc appreciated by 3 Kobo to close at 56 Kobo per share, in contrast to the previous day’s rate of 53 Kobo per share.

When the platform ended trading activities yesterday, its value went down by N1.17 billion to settle at N1.955 trillion compared with the preceding day’s N1.956 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) decreased by 2.03 points to close at 3,385.50 points, in contrast to the previous trading day’s 3,387.53 points.

The volume of securities traded at the bourse dropped by 36.3 per cent to 298,845 units from the 469,185 units published on Tuesday, the value of securities decreased by 4.8 per cent to N10.4 million from the N10.9 million quoted at the preceding session, and the number number of deals moderated by 34.2 per cent to 25 deals from 38 deals.

At the close of business, Impresit Bakolori Plc was the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 533.9 million units worth N520.9 million, followed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 12.5 million units valued at N484.0 million, and Afriland Properties Plc with 17.2 million units sold for N352.8 million.

Also, Impresit Bakolori Plc was the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 533.9 million units worth N520.9 million, trailed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 69.9 million units sold for N23.7 million, and Afriland Properties Plc with 17.2 million units valued at N352.8 million.

Continue Reading

Economy

Reps Approve Conditions to Revoke Licences of Insurance Companies

Published

on

Coronation Insurance

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The House of Representatives has passed Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2024, repealing Act, Cap 117, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the Marine Insurance Act, Cap M3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; The Motor Vehicle (Third Party) Insurance Act, Cap M22, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Nigerian Insurance Reinsurance Corporation Act, Cap N131, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

At the plenary on Wednesday, the green chamber of the National Assembly approved some conditions the operating licence of an insurance company can be revoked by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

The new piece of legislature, which provides for a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for insurance business in Nigeria, was enacted yesterday after the consideration of the Senate bill.

During the presentation by House Leader, Mr Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday, for a clause-by-clause consideration, it was agreed that NAICOM can withdraw the licence of an insurer or reinsurer if it is not conducting insurance business in accordance with sound insurance principles.

In addition, this action can be carried out if the licence holder has “failed to satisfy the capital or solvency requirement as prescribed by the commission and has ceased to carry on the business of insurance and the primary purpose for which it was registered for at least one year in Nigeria.”

The lower chamber of the parliament also concurred with the Senate that for obtaining an operating licence, “An application for licensing as an insurer shall be made to the commission in the prescribed form and accompanied by such other documents or information as the commission may from time to time require.

“The commission shall publish and make available to the general public a service charter which shall provide for products and services of the commission and the complete list of requirements to obtain the products and services.”

However, no person or organisation is allowed to “commence or carry out insurance, reinsurance or related business in Nigeria unless licensed by the commission as an insurer or a reinsurer under this bill.”

NAICOM was given the power to “regulate the insurance industry [in Nigeria] in order to develop the insurance sector and to protect the interest of policyholders, prospective policyholders and other stakeholders under insurance policies in ways that are consistent with the continued development of a viable, competitive  and innovative insurance industry.”

Continue Reading

Trending