Over 2,000 female entrepreneurs have been trained by Heritage Bank as part of its efforts to promote financial inclusivity and strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) segment of the economy.
The move is in line with the people-oriented policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Heritage Bank Plc said it
is partnering with a Non-Governmental Organisation, Prime Women Builders
Foundation of Nigeria (PWOBFON) in providing skills training to the female
entrepreneurs.
At the graduation ceremony/certificate award ceremony held at Ikeja Local
Government headquarters, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo said the bank
is keen in cultivating real partnerships with Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
Sekibo, who was represented by the Head, Brand Management & Sustainability
Ozena Utulu explained that the lender is interested in initiatives that
encourage people to start their own businesses and gradually grow them into
conglomerates.
According to him, the partnership with PWOBFON is vital in many ways
particularly in the area of job creation, economic empowerment and financial
inclusion.
His words: “apart from skills training, the women have been told the importance
of record keeping in business, savings culture and the benefits of having bank
accounts as a gateway to accessing other financial services.”
He said Heritage Bank has been a leading Nigerian bank with an excellent
service culture hinged on working with each customer to create a name, wealth
and heritage.
Also speaking, President/Convener Prime women Builders Foundation of Nigeria,
Kemi Olofinkua applauded the bank for its support, and urged other corporate
organizations to take a cue from the lender in supporting grassroots women
empowerment.
She explained that through the support from the Heritage Bank and the Ikeja
Local government, the women, based on their choices, have been equipped with 15
vocational skills covering event decoration, small chops making, baking,
pastries, bead making, computer training , soap making, makeup, tailoring,
digital marketing, Photography, hairdressing among others.
To underscore the importance of women empowerment, the CBN had earlier set
aside 60 per cent of its N220 billion MSMED Fund for providing financial
services to women.
According to Olofinkua, this training is important because when women are
positively occupied, the level of poverty will reduce and great achievements
will be recorded not only on the home front, but on several sectors of “our
national life.”
“Heritage Bank has been very supportive and our desire is to see participants
of PWOBFON Empowerment Day, doing great in their various vocations. Each and
every one of us must deliberately find something to occupy us and bring good
profit. There are lots of vocations that each and every one of us can excel in;
so that we will not be frustrated along the part of life,” Olofinkua stated.
The executive chairman, Ikeja Local Government Development Council, Dr. Mojeed
Alabi Balogun, represented by his vice, Yomi Mayungba said the local government
is interested in the initiative because it is in line with its grassroots
skills training program . According to him, this is a way of keeping not only
women, but men also out of the streets.
He disclosed that the first batch of trainees started from Ikeja and this is
the 10th year anniversary. “The local government is delighted to partner with
the NGO, Heritage Bank and other interested parties,” Balogun said.