By Owolola Adebola
Experts drawn from various field of learning gathered over 50 Nigerian youth at the weekend in Lagos to mentor them on how to grow in their business by utilizing current available facilities in banks and other financial institutions across the country through acquisition of skills.
The seminar which was held on Saturday 25th May at the Elohim Tabernacle International Church, Idado Estate, Lekki Lagos State with theme “Building Purpose in Life and Enterprise” was organised by Oluwatobi Odukoya, a social entrepreneur.
At the well attended event were representatives of Union Bank and Access Bank who used the seminar to showcase their various products aimed at encouraging Nigerian women and men on how best to approach the banks to get credit facilities with ease to enable them embark on businesses aimed at boosting the economy of the country.
Speakers took time to share their experiences and tutor those at the event on major steps that could be taken to prosper in business.
One of the speakers, Yinka Fisher, who is currently the Coordinator, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Lagos State, said the agency was established to encourage Nigerians to be employers of labour.
According to him, SMEDAN does not give loans but assists to facilitate such loans through commercial and micro finance banks to help investors embark on business after receiving training.
He further stated that the agency gives information to investors on how to get raw materials, equipment and ensure government regularization process.
Another speaker, Alex Ade Adefemi, aka Triple A, a business and life coach expert, taught the gathering on emotional intelligence which is an indicator of language of the mind. He urged business owners to love what they are doing to achieve success.
Mrs. Ifedayo Durosinmi Etti, an author and entrepreneur also shared her success story at the event. Also to share her success story was Olawunmi Ogunde, co-founder of Ecoprune Africa
Meanwhile, the representatives of Union Bank, Mr. Nicolas Nnadozie urged Nigerian business owners to ensure accurate book keeping of their daily transactions which he said is the major problem making it difficult for them to access loans from banks.
He implored Nigerians to approach Union Bank to get various loan facilities currently available for small and medium scale business.
Also Access Bank representative, Odutola Ogundipe, said the bank now focuses on small and medium enterprises (SME) with major emphasis on investing in Nigerian women as well as men through their various products. “Access Bank has focus on women. If you impact life in a woman you impact the community. Men are not left out, we still have many products for our men who need loan for business,” she said.
The organiser of the business forum, Oluwatobi Odukoya, thanked those who came for the seminar and advised them to use what they learnt to uplift their business.