By Steve Agbota
Fidelity Bank Plc has entered into a partnership with Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE) to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to empower young entrepreneurs in the country.
The partnership will give Fidelity Bank the opportunity to offer financial and technical advisory services to enhance the competitiveness and dynamism of young Nigerian entrepreneurs and also strengthen the ongoing efforts and initiatives of AYE in developing and supporting future business leaders.
AYE, with a network of over 12.6 million members across the continent and 1.6 million Nigerian members makes it the largest network of entrepreneurs in the world. It is an organisation that exploits workshops, conferences and motivational talks to share practical information on how to develop and manage businesses.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the bank has empowered so many youths in the area of SMEs by teaching them skills and how to fish for themselves. He stated that the bank just finished training 500 youths in Port Harcourt and has also empowered 750 entrepreneurs in Kebbi State.
The partnership was made possible because Fidelity Bank shares the same ideals on entrepreneurship and job creation, which is in line with the Federal Government’s Economic Diversification Plan, saying that more employment opportunities lead to poverty alleviation, improved food security and GDP growth.
He added: “As a bank, we are committed to growing the economy and in pursuit of this, we are constantly searching for critical partners that are closely aligned to our strategic objectives. AYE is one of those partners.”
Meanwhile, the President of AYE, Mr. Summy Smart Francis, said the partnership was in line with efforts at building the next generation of outstanding leaders, who will shape the economic landscape of the continent.
He added: “We are encouraged by this collaboration with Fidelity Bank, which no doubt, will enhance, among other things, our entrepreneurship advocacy and empowerment objectives. AYE encourages social entrepreneurship with role models, powerful mentors, social innovators, thought leaders, forward thinking investors and people passionate about addressing a range of societal and environmental challenges.”
These stakeholders gather once in a year in what is tagged the “Networking with the Giants Conference”. The 3rd annual conference, which is the 2017 edition, is billed to hold in partnership with Fidelity Bank on November 30, 2017 in Lagos.
He said the annual conference, is an exceptional platform for some of the world’s most accomplished business leaders to network with the brightest entrepreneurs in Africa, which provides ample opportunity for individuals with vibrant business ideas to network with established industry leaders, policy makers and outstanding investors from around the globe to draw life-transforming inspirations from their success stories.