Sterling Bank said that the training organised for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector was designed to enhance managerial capacity of the SMEs operators in the country. The programme according to the bank would enable SMEs operators to have entrepreneurial qualities with a view to building sustainable business, due to the critical roles they play in the development of an economy.
The bank’s executive director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman said, “It is our view that for us to be able to support SMEs, the standard for reporting and the day-to-day management of the organization needs to improve. We are hoping that this seminar would achieve this objective.
“We are focused on people we have done business with for a while and we want to assist them to take their businesses to another level. The process for transforming SMEs to become bigger players and part of national growth does not start and end with finance. A huge part of it starts with education.”
He is also of the opinion that the type of education provided for SMEs needs to be improved. “Nigeria still has a lot to do and a long way to go when it comes to our legal environment, the process of securing approvals and setting up businesses.”
He assured that Sterling Bank will continue to invest in capacity building in the sector because the national economic development prospects of any country is hinged on the entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs as most big business concerns grew from small scale players to become big icons.
He however said that the expected growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country would not be achieved unless there is an improvement in the quality of infrastructure in the country.
The bank’s executive director explained that the training programme was designed to render business advisory services to SME operators in the country adding that the development would facilitate real growth in the economy as small businesses remain the catalyst for real economic development anywhere in the world.