In order to take the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to the next level, the Bank of Industry (BoI), in partnership with Western Union and USAID African Diaspora Marketplace, has invited over 200 SMEs to present innovative business plans to leading Nigerian and Pan-African banks.
According to the Managing Director of BoI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, her bank has been working with SMEs for more than a decade and has continually underscored their key role in not only driving growth, but also job creation.
Oputu, who disclosed this at the 2nd annual SMEs live banking panel, organized by BoI, in partnership with the Western Union and USAID African Diaspora Marketplace, Tuesday in Lagos, said that the annual event was unique because it brought together great banking partners who have recognized the role of SMEs in development and are willing to help address issues they face in accessing finance.
She noted that lack of access to finance and lack of full knowledge entrepreneurship are the main reasons for SMEs high failure rate in Nigeria.
“If we channel our efforts and resources together, and support SMEs, for instance, they will be the drivers of economic growth; job creation and poverty alleviation. Most countries base their economic development, growth and job creation strategies on SMEs. That is the big area we want to focus on,” she said.
She said that bold efforts should be made in addressing these challenges and proffer workable solutions in order to lift the economy.
Speaking at the event, the Regional Vice President of Western Union, Ms Aida Diarra, said that Western Union tried to equip individuals with the tools and resources that they need so they can achieve growth.
Ms. Diarra said that the sacrifices that many customers make to start up a business can be lost without the tools to maximize their investments through remittances, diasporan investors or institutional partners.
She noted that SMEs representing key sectors such as information and communications technology(ICT), agri-business, manufacturing and renewable energy will be among those being reviewed by approximately eight to twelve Nigerian and pan-African banks.
“Developing new approaches and opportunities that generate sustainable financial empowerment requires coordination and alignment across all sectors. A partnership between the bank of Industry and the African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) links the private sector, government leaders and global community to collectively make a significant and positive impact to help SMEs,” she said.
The sun news
The
Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) says the
country has the capacity to meet the 40 billion barrels oil reserves as
projected by the Federal Government.
The President of the association, Mr George Osahon, said while briefing newsmen on the association’s 31st Annual International Conference scheduled for between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 in Lagos.
Osahon, who is also the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said that Federal Government had targeted 40 billion barrels reserves and four million barrels per day production by the year 2020. According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas industry is currently experiencing declining reserves owing to reduced exploration, a situation that has caused much concern. Osahon said that successful exploration and development of new oil fields would require the use of novel integrated technologies.
He said that the association would at its 31st Annual International Conference and Exhibition examine critically the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Osahon said that government was committed in meeting the 40 billion barrel oil reserve target, but decried the rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.
He said as a country, it was in the best interest of the government to increase production.
“It is for all of us as stakeholders to work together, minimise the distraction and face the business of boosting the reserves production to 40 billion barrels.”
Osahon said that exploration successes in other African countries had put pressure on Nigeria as a competing destination for oil and gas investments.
He stressed the urgent need to examine the effectiveness of existing policies to drive growth in the oil and gas industry as well as the development of road maps and new policy initiatives.
Osahon said the association was committed to providing other learning opportunities, including short courses and field trips to the carbonate sedimentation areas in the Eastern Dahomey Basin in South West Nigeria.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the DPR director said the association would continue to advice government on the need to pass the bill into law.
“Stakeholders believe that as exploration and production experts in the oil and gas industry, NAPE should have made greater impact to ensure the passage of the bill into law. The only thing the body can do is to advice and can not force the government to do what they have to do.’’ He said that the National Assembly had the responsibility of either passing or rejecting the bill.
Osahon, however, said that what stakeholders should do was to make representations to the National Assembly in form of memoranda on the bill, adding that the association had already done so.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fgll-meet-40bn-barrels-oil-reserves-2020-says-nape/#sthash.NuoZ3tkq.dpuf
The President of the association, Mr George Osahon, said while briefing newsmen on the association’s 31st Annual International Conference scheduled for between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 in Lagos.
Osahon, who is also the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said that Federal Government had targeted 40 billion barrels reserves and four million barrels per day production by the year 2020. According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas industry is currently experiencing declining reserves owing to reduced exploration, a situation that has caused much concern. Osahon said that successful exploration and development of new oil fields would require the use of novel integrated technologies.
He said that the association would at its 31st Annual International Conference and Exhibition examine critically the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Osahon said that government was committed in meeting the 40 billion barrel oil reserve target, but decried the rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.
He said as a country, it was in the best interest of the government to increase production.
“It is for all of us as stakeholders to work together, minimise the distraction and face the business of boosting the reserves production to 40 billion barrels.”
Osahon said that exploration successes in other African countries had put pressure on Nigeria as a competing destination for oil and gas investments.
He stressed the urgent need to examine the effectiveness of existing policies to drive growth in the oil and gas industry as well as the development of road maps and new policy initiatives.
Osahon said the association was committed to providing other learning opportunities, including short courses and field trips to the carbonate sedimentation areas in the Eastern Dahomey Basin in South West Nigeria.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the DPR director said the association would continue to advice government on the need to pass the bill into law.
“Stakeholders believe that as exploration and production experts in the oil and gas industry, NAPE should have made greater impact to ensure the passage of the bill into law. The only thing the body can do is to advice and can not force the government to do what they have to do.’’ He said that the National Assembly had the responsibility of either passing or rejecting the bill.
Osahon, however, said that what stakeholders should do was to make representations to the National Assembly in form of memoranda on the bill, adding that the association had already done so.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fgll-meet-40bn-barrels-oil-reserves-2020-says-nape/#sthash.NuoZ3tkq.dpuf
The
Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) says the
country has the capacity to meet the 40 billion barrels oil reserves as
projected by the Federal Government.
The President of the association, Mr George Osahon, said while briefing newsmen on the association’s 31st Annual International Conference scheduled for between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 in Lagos.
Osahon, who is also the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said that Federal Government had targeted 40 billion barrels reserves and four million barrels per day production by the year 2020. According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas industry is currently experiencing declining reserves owing to reduced exploration, a situation that has caused much concern. Osahon said that successful exploration and development of new oil fields would require the use of novel integrated technologies.
He said that the association would at its 31st Annual International Conference and Exhibition examine critically the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Osahon said that government was committed in meeting the 40 billion barrel oil reserve target, but decried the rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.
He said as a country, it was in the best interest of the government to increase production.
“It is for all of us as stakeholders to work together, minimise the distraction and face the business of boosting the reserves production to 40 billion barrels.”
Osahon said that exploration successes in other African countries had put pressure on Nigeria as a competing destination for oil and gas investments.
He stressed the urgent need to examine the effectiveness of existing policies to drive growth in the oil and gas industry as well as the development of road maps and new policy initiatives.
Osahon said the association was committed to providing other learning opportunities, including short courses and field trips to the carbonate sedimentation areas in the Eastern Dahomey Basin in South West Nigeria.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the DPR director said the association would continue to advice government on the need to pass the bill into law.
“Stakeholders believe that as exploration and production experts in the oil and gas industry, NAPE should have made greater impact to ensure the passage of the bill into law. The only thing the body can do is to advice and can not force the government to do what they have to do.’’ He said that the National Assembly had the responsibility of either passing or rejecting the bill.
Osahon, however, said that what stakeholders should do was to make representations to the National Assembly in form of memoranda on the bill, adding that the association had already done so.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fgll-meet-40bn-barrels-oil-reserves-2020-says-nape/#sthash.NuoZ3tkq.dpuf
The President of the association, Mr George Osahon, said while briefing newsmen on the association’s 31st Annual International Conference scheduled for between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 in Lagos.
Osahon, who is also the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said that Federal Government had targeted 40 billion barrels reserves and four million barrels per day production by the year 2020. According to him, the Nigerian oil and gas industry is currently experiencing declining reserves owing to reduced exploration, a situation that has caused much concern. Osahon said that successful exploration and development of new oil fields would require the use of novel integrated technologies.
He said that the association would at its 31st Annual International Conference and Exhibition examine critically the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Osahon said that government was committed in meeting the 40 billion barrel oil reserve target, but decried the rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.
He said as a country, it was in the best interest of the government to increase production.
“It is for all of us as stakeholders to work together, minimise the distraction and face the business of boosting the reserves production to 40 billion barrels.”
Osahon said that exploration successes in other African countries had put pressure on Nigeria as a competing destination for oil and gas investments.
He stressed the urgent need to examine the effectiveness of existing policies to drive growth in the oil and gas industry as well as the development of road maps and new policy initiatives.
Osahon said the association was committed to providing other learning opportunities, including short courses and field trips to the carbonate sedimentation areas in the Eastern Dahomey Basin in South West Nigeria.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the DPR director said the association would continue to advice government on the need to pass the bill into law.
“Stakeholders believe that as exploration and production experts in the oil and gas industry, NAPE should have made greater impact to ensure the passage of the bill into law. The only thing the body can do is to advice and can not force the government to do what they have to do.’’ He said that the National Assembly had the responsibility of either passing or rejecting the bill.
Osahon, however, said that what stakeholders should do was to make representations to the National Assembly in form of memoranda on the bill, adding that the association had already done so.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/fgll-meet-40bn-barrels-oil-reserves-2020-says-nape/#sthash.NuoZ3tkq.dpuf


