Union Bank reiterates commitment to SMEs growth

ONE of the nation’s frontline financial institutions, Union Bank Plc,  has pledged its commitment to ensuring the  growth of the nation’s  small and medium businesses, as it concluded a series of business seminars for operators of this group of businesses, across the country.

The seminars took place in seven major cities, including Aba, Lagos, Anambra, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Oyo.

Tagged ‘Managing a successful small Business’, the seminars, according to  the Bank’s Head of Retail Segments, Paul Aseme, were designed to provide practical information and guidance on how to address typical challenges small businesses face in Nigeria.

He explained that the decision of the bank to organise the capacity building for operators of such businesses was informed by the key role of  those businesses in driving the nation’s economy.

Some of the  training modules of the workshops, he stated,  included modules on sales and marketing, governance, succession planning and capacity building.

“In addition, attendees were equipped with relevant digital marketing and accounting skills to enable them compete favourably in the Nigerian marketplace.

“The bank’s SME support scheme also includes the provision of access to market, a conducive banking climate for investment and, easy access to finance for working capital through loan products that include non-collateral loans.

Last year, in partnership with Co-Creation Hub, Union Bank launched a first-of-its-kind business acceleration programme ‘Start up Connect’ which provides an opportunity for Nigerian businesses creating technology-based solutions for the emerging African market, to partner with the bank and the social innovation centre for rapid growth,” he added.