Fidelity Bank, Empretec deepen financial inclusion, train youths on entrepreneurship
Leading commercial bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, in a strategic partnership with Empretec Nigerian Foundation has ended a graduate entrepreneurship training programme for 200 youths in Cross River State.
The scheme is part of the bank’s drive to grow financial inclusion and business development initiative training for youths. It is the part of the next phase of the Bank’s entrepreneurship support interventions for State governments and Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Already, the Bank Managed SME Division through its Youth Entrepreneurship team has put in place a programme for identifying and building young and budding entrepreneurs who will become tomorrows’ big SME customers.
Coming on the heels of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the week-long training programme was designed strategically to provide vivid insights into the theoretical and foundational knowledge required to manage sustainable businesses.
In his remarks the Bank’s CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo said that the programme is aimed strategically at helping young entrepreneurs build capacity needed to own and manage successful businesses.
Represented by the Bank’s Group Head, Specialised SMEs, Mr. Ndubuisi Onuoha Okonkwo noted that “The idea is to inculcate in youths the entrepreneurship spirit that will enable them establish on their own and eventually become employers of labour instead of roaming about the streets looking for white collar jobs that do not exist.”
Explaining critical issues that drive small businesses, Founder of Empretec and wife of former Governor of Cross River State, Mrs. Onari Duke, enjoined the beneficiaries to put to good use the knowledge and skills acquired to internalize and maximize the opportunities being offered by the federal and state governments.
She applauded the relentless effort of Fidelity Bank particularly with regards to empowering entrepreneurs in the country. She also urged other Private sector organisations and corporate bodies to borrow a leaf from us, adding that they should support government’s effort to grow the Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) landscape particularly in the area of funding.
Business Hilights gathered that as a flagship capacity-building programme of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Empretec is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with a view to facilitating sustainable development and inclusive growth.
