Keystone Bank empowers 100 small businesses
Keystone Bank has empowered no less than 100 small businesses in Enugu State through its Ministry of Commerce & Industry, to boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development in the state.
The latest partnership according to a statement from the bank, is in line with the bank’s continuous economic empowerment campaign aimed at raising the bar of small business which form by the bedrock of the nation’s economy.
In the partnership, 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 businesses in the state and the economy at large.
Speaking at the event which held at the city square in Enugu, the Executive Governor of the state, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, lauded Keystone Bank’s commitment and support of the crusade for MSME growth in the State.
Acting Managing Director of 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 he says also “helps to boost our drive for financial inclusion of the un-banked in Nigeria which is in line with Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive.”
Bakare stated that the importance of MSMEs to the development of the nation’s economy was significant, noting that they provide a means of employment generation, improvement of local technology, output diversification, development of indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with larger-scale industries.
“Today in Nigeria, many factors have contributed to the under-performance of micro enterprises and their contributions to economic growth. We at Keystone Bank seek to help bridge the gap by not only providing finance, but by offering financial advisory service through relevant platforms to assist in business growth,” he said.
Bakare added that he third phase of this programme will hold at the end of May 2017 in order to benefit more micro scale enterprises.
