Sterling Bank Plc’s project “Meet the Executive” presents 18 contestants who have qualified for its finals. From its onset, over 700 business plans were received from small business owners aspiring to become big entrepreneurs.The project was designed to support new and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing training and at the end, funding for those SMEs that come on top.To ensure the best wins, a team of seasoned consultants was engaged by the bank to carefully scrutinize business plans and proposals from the public. The best entries were selected based on originality of the plans, their viability and provision of detailed information such as the required capital, cash flow and revenue projections.The stage is now set for the finals which will take place at Sterling Bank headquarters on the 14th of March, 2014. The 18 contestants shall present and defend their business plans before a select team of bank executives, successful entrepreneurs and observers. The winner is to get a total prize money of over N5 million.The “Meet the Executive” project is solely owned and sponsored by the bank as a way of encouraging entrepreneurship, economic independence and industry among the populace.Mr. Shina Atilola, Sterling Bank Group Head, Strategy & Communications, said in a statement that the bank’s decision to invest in new business initiatives and nurture them to become viable SMEs was borne out of its need to facilitate real growth in the economy as small businesses still remain the catalyst for real economic development anywhere in the world.
