Connect Nigeria’s Annual Business Fair has been known to attract captains of industry each year. This year’s edition, which saw a turnout of over 5000 participants on Saturday 21
st February 2015 was no exception.
It will be recalled that at the 2013 business fair which held on Saturday 26th October 2013,
the keynote speech was delivered by the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was represented by a deputy director of the bank, Mr. Olusuyi Adaramewa.
At this year’s edition of the event which was themed ‘e-Business and the Growth of Your Enterprise’, the keynote speech was delivered by the MD of the Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa represented by Mr. Obaro Osah, Head, Lagos Region – SME Group, Bank of Industry.
As a seasoned and professional banker with over twenty years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry, spanning International Operations, Trade Services, Treasury Operations, Correspondent Banking, Customer Service, Relationship Management and Business Development, he gave vital advice to those embarking on business ventures.
He said that the Bank of Industry has been playing a critical role by providing grounds for small businesses financing. He also stressed that the Bank has made the process of accessing funds very easy by reducing the processes to three easy activities to apply for funding now, giving every Nigerian access to funding for business.
According to him, most startups are faced with the challenge of penning down marketable business proposal and in view of this, BOI entered into partnership with 232 Business Development Support Partners (BDSPs) to help the entrepreneurs in drafting presentable proposals to banks for grants or loans.
He also urged participants and other startups to embrace cashless as a means of reducing risks associated with carrying cash around, and means of packaging their activities to partake in the formal sector of the economy.
