The campaign for the patronage of made in Nigeria goods and services, championed by Sterling Bank Plc, received a major boost at the weekend as the financial institution announced its sponsorship of the 2016 Made-In-Nigeria festival.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ) , Godwin Emefiele; Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation , Mr. Ben Akabueze; Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Trade, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah will lead discussions at the event.
The sponsorship of the event, according to the Bank in a statement over the weekend and signed by its Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola , is In line with the bank’s commitment to promote and support government’s drive to diversify the economy occasioned by the declining revenue generated from crude oil exports and the relatively weaker exchange rate against the US dollar in the parallel market.
The maiden edition of the Festival, according to the Bank, would focus on enhancing innovation, creativity and promoting the buy Nigeria culture to stimulate key growth sectors, create jobs as well as facilitate trade and investment in sectors such as Power & Infrastructure, Agriculture, Technology, and Manufacturing Sports & Entertainment.
The Bank stated that the week long program will comprise of a 3-day summit, 7-day Exhibition of Made in Nigeria products, a showcase of Made-In-Nigeria, art & entertainment and an Independence day Concert tagged “the Supremacy” featuring the best of Nigerian artists like Tuface, Asa, Dbanj, King Sunny Ade & Wizkid, among others.
Sterling Bank has been at the forefront in the crusade to promote and encourage the patronage of local industry through the Finance and patronage of Labana Rice Mills; partnership with Innosson Motors (the first indigenous motor manufacturing company in Nigeria and the introduction of made-in-Nigeria week when staff of the Bank whore local fabrics to the office.
Sterling Bank Plc, “the one-customer bank”, is a full-service national commercial bank with an asset base above N800 billion, over 187 business offices and more than 800 ATMs nationwide. In over 55 years of service, Sterling Bank (formerly NAL Bank) has evolved from the nation’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a fully-fledged commercial bank.
