Capital is crucial in driving
sustainable Small and Medium Enterprises’(SMEs’) growth and uplifting the
economy. First Bank of Nigeria Limited, as part of the launch of its
specialised SMEs’ propositions, has continually supported SMEs through diverse
initiatives.
The bank says its support for
SMEs is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive on improved
funding for SMEs to ensure economic growth and development. The economies of
great nations thrive on the strength and performance of Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) seen as engine of growth.
For Nigeria, the Central Bank
(CBN) defines SMEs as enterprises with asset base (excluding land) of between
N5 million and N500 million and labour force of 11 and 300 people. The benefits
of funding SMEs have attracted many banks with eye on the future to invest and
support SMEs in the interest of the economy. For SMEs to achieve these goals,
operators’ easy access to credit must be promoted.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited is
one of the banks that is investing and supporting SMEs. Following research by
the bank over the years, it identified these seven strategic pillars that are
essential to the sustainability and growth of the SMEs. These include access to
infrastructure, access to talent, capacity building, policy and regulation,
access to resources, access to market as well as access to finance.
The bank has also held its SMEs’
Week in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano and Owerri. The week-long
event was rounded off with a live webinar, facilitated by Gbenga Shobo, the
bank’s Deputy Managing Director. According to Shobo, “FirstBank has, over the
years, been at the forefront of supporting businesses, especially the SMEs, as
we recognise that the SMEs are the engine of the economy.
We are committed to ensuring that
we leave no stone unturned as we connect with them in their continued
contribution to national development in terms of the employment opportunities
they create as well as their contribution to the nation’s GDP amongst many
economic values.
“The FirstBank SME Week is driven
to promote the Bank’s SME proposition, thereby having SMEs across the country
optimally enlightened on how to plug in. We believe this will help SMEs bolster
their contribution to the growth and development of the economy.”
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