Leading money deposit bank, Keystone Bank has partnered with the Enugu State Government’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry to encourage the activities of over 100 operators of Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
A statement by the bank said the partnership was in line with the bank’s continuous economic empowerment campaign aimed at raising the bar of small businesses, which forms the bedrock of the nation’s economy.
According to the bank, “100 entrepreneurs were recently endowed with a financial aid of N50,000 each to enhance their various trades which ultimately translates to a boost in the local companies in the state and the economy at large”.
In his speech, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, lauded Keystone Bank’s commitment and support of the crusade for the MSMEs growth in the state.
Responding, Acting Managing Director, Keystone Bank, Mr. Hafiz Bakare, represented by the Head, South Directorate, Mr. Rowly Isioro, said, “Keystone Bank has been at the forefront of empowering MSMEs as they drive economic growth from the grass roots of the society. “This helps to boost our drive for financial inclusion of the un-banked in Nigeria which is in line with Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive.”
He stated that the importance of the MSMEs to the development of the nation’s economy was significant, noting that they provided a means of employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification, development of indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with larger-scale industries.