Business
FirstBank as Synonym for Growth of SMEs in Nigeria
By Eric Elezuo
It is not by accident that banks need to be at the heart of the SME business, providing support, capital and innovative solutions to help small businesses prosper. It is also not accidental that most countries can boast of some quality banks that hold sway the prosperity of small and medium enterprises. In Nigeria, that bank is FirstBank Nigeria Plc, unarguably the best bank in the country going by its very many firsts, awards, honours and initiatives.
And in retaining their dominance, FirstBank has remained at the heart of the SME business, using technology to better understand the needs and context of the business.
As part of its efforts to further launch its specialized SME propositions to its customers, FirstBank cleverly designed a wide range of events and activities during its SMEs week, specifically targeted to and for the growth of SMEs operators. This includes the SME Masterclass with a mind boggling theme “Designing and Implementing a Growth Strategy for your Business”. There was also a specialized one on one sessions with renowned business coaches, culminating in the launch of seven unique pillars which make up the brand’s SME propositions. These and many more are available via SMEConnect – The FirstBank SME portal.
The SME portal is a platform through which SMEs can access FirstBank’s unique propositions specially tailored with the essential tools needed for the growth of their business. The SME portal, according to FirstBank, is also designed to help SMEs identify various gaps that hinder their business growth leveraging the brand’s innovative Business Diagnostics Tool, with a view to proffering tailored solutions and creating opportunities for business improvement, profitability and sustainability.
In addition, FirstBank through extensive research in the past years, has identified these seven strategic pillars to be essential for the sustainability and growth of the SMEs. These seven pillars are access to infrastructure, access to talent, capacity building, policy and regulation, access to resources, access to market as well as access to finance. The pillars, rightly named, have duly informed the bank’s strategy and propositions for SMEs.
To this end, FirstBank’s weeklong activity dedicated to operators of SMEs and held across six locations in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Oyo, Kano and Owerri in the month of August was practically centred on one on one coaching advisory sessions. The business owners came out of the sessions better equipped and prepared for the task ahead.
Buttressing FirstBank’s unalloyed leadership status in SME projection in Nigeria, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Gbenga Shobo, hinted thus:
“FirstBank has over the years, been at the forefront of supporting Businesses, especially the SMEs as we recognise that the SMEs are the engine of the economy. We are committed to ensuring that we leave no stone unturned as we connect with them in their continued contribution to national development in terms of the employment opportunities they create as well as their contribution to the nation’s GDP amongst many economic values.”
The event promoted the Bank’s SME proposition, and helped SMEs bolster their contribution to the growth and development of the economy.
Consequently, every SME operator can visit www.firstbanknigeria.com/SMEConnect/ to take the FirstBank SME Diagnostics test and get guidance for business improvement opportunities.
It must not be forgotten that in October, at the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lagos, FirstBank celebrated some SME operators, better known as Firstmonie Agents, when it held the Agent Banking National award in an event themed Planting Community Heroes Nationwide. The Agent Banking Scheme was initiated in 2017, and ever since, has recorded giant strides at promoting financial inclusion across the nook and cranny of the country. There are about 40, 000 agents raised by FirstBank in the 774 local government areas of the nation. Through this medium, FirstBank is leading the effort at supporting the Federal government objectives to deepen access to financial services.
Summing it up, FirstBank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Asesola Adeduntan noted “the unwavering efforts and remarkable contributions by our Firstmonie Agents at promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, and indeed very much appreciated. Within the past two years, we have been able to create not only 40, 000 access points, but over 150, 000 indirect jobs. We remain committed to doing more, strengthening business activities, driving economic growth and development thereby reducing poverty.”
The CEO is of the opinion that FirstBank will never rest on its laurels as every individual’s contribution to national growth and development is important to the bank, and so will spiritedly continue to support the growth of SMEs.
Over the years, FirstBank has develop customer loyalty through development of a clear value proposition and strategy to partner with their SME customers, and offer them a broad range of solutions to run, control and grow their businesses. The following are some of the ways
- Helping SMEs connect with an ecosystem of suppliers, distributors and other SMEs
- Using their expertise across industries, channels and regions, to offer growth opportunities and insights
- Supporting business productivity by offering solutions, such as cash flow management, HR, talent and tax; and keeping their businesses safe through education on regulatory compliance.
With all these, FirstBank has got the basics right, and it is therefore not surprising that the bank has become a synonym for growth of SMEs in Nigeria.
Bulk Data service from Globacom has continued to garner patronage from more enterprise clients across the country owing to its immense benefits.
With the offering, Glo Enterprise users can gift data to other customers with the Bulk Data offering, a self-service site designed for data allocation. Through it, a specific quantity of data can be freely utilized for specific users’ navigation of a mobile application or website at no cost to the users of the application or website. The service is paid for by the enterprise client.
A school’s bucket data plan allows institutions to buy bulk data for students’ instructional purposes. The Plan is good for ninety days. In contrast, the Gifted Data Plan is good for 30 days. As many Glo subscribers as the sponsor desires may receive data gifts from the Bulk Data sponsor.
Depending on which Pack the gifting customer has subscribed to, a sponsor can equally gift data in 200MB, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, 5GB, or 10GB amounts.
Globacom has built the solution so that each sponsor can tailor the SMS notification that is sent to the beneficiary regarding the provided data. This sets this product apart from others available on the market.
While the recipients of the Bulk Data giving can check their own balance by dialing the USSD code, *127*0#, on their own devices, the gifted plans can be tailored to the sponsor’s requirements and preferences.
Only businesses that purchase large quantities of data, including corporations and educational institutions, are eligible for the Bulk Data service.
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, continues to make significant impact in birthing the next generation of banking and finance professionals on the continent through its Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP) which to date has produced over 3,222 young professionals across Africa.
Since inception three years ago, the GMAP, designed to equip entrants with the necessary skills and knowledge, has provided mentorship, training, and hands-on experience to young graduates for leadership roles in UBA.
On Wednesday, a ceremony was held at the Landmark Event Centre to induct another cohort of 1,138 successful graduates who were absorbed by the bank following intensive training spanning several months of rigorous learning, testing the entrants’ dedication and resilience.
The momentous ceremony was graced by the UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, the Group Managing Director/ CEO, Oliver Alawuba, and other Board Members, Executive Management, faculty members, mentors, families, and friends of the graduates.
Elumelu, who expressed his excitement over the new graduates, highlighted the bank’s passion for youth empowerment in Africa while bridging the unemployment gap, which according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges in the continent,
He said, “At UBA, we believe that Africa’s transformation is in the hands of young, dynamic, and ambitious professionals such as you. Through GMAP, we are not only shaping future leaders but also reinforcing our commitment to excellence and impact. To our graduands, remember that success is built on hard work, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning. The world is waiting for you to make your mark.”
Speaking earlier at the event, UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, expressed immense pride in the graduands and reiterated the bank’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.
“This moment marks the beginning of a transformational journey that will shape your careers, your contributions to society, and Africa at large. The GMAP is a testament to our vision of empowering the brightest minds with the skills, knowledge, and mind-set required to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape,” Alawuba stated.
He pointed out UBA’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion, highlighting that of the fresh 1,138 graduands, 666 (representing 58%) are women, a reflection of the bank’s dedication to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.
Encouraging the graduands, Alawuba charged them to uphold UBA’s core values of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution, while embracing the bank’s Persona of Simplicity, Responsiveness, and Goal-oriented (SRG).
The ceremony featured inspiring testimonies from GMAP alumni who have made significant strides within the bank.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edgetechnology.
FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, today marks a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new green-certified Iconic Head Office Building in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
This ambitious project 40-story building project set to be the tallest building in Nigeria, will be an engineering and environmental delight due to its technologically advanced, eco-friendly and sophisticated construction which would set a new standard for the financial services sector in Africa.
The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the beginning of a transformative journey that reinforces FirstBank’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The new headquarters is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a green-certified building that reduces operational costs and positions FirstBank as a leader in sustainable banking practices.
According to Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO, FirstBank Group, “We are proud to mark this significant milestone in our journey towards excellence. Our new Head Office is envisioned as a world-class structure that represents our dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. We believe that this development will play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and development across Africa, creating long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
With a legacy spanning over 130 years, FirstBank has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainable business practices. The Bank has a robust international presence, operating subsidiaries in nine countries across three continents.
Femi Otedola, Chairman, FirstHoldCo, added, “Today’s gathering highlights the importance of collaboration and support from various sectors in bringing our ambitious plans for the new headquarters to life. We appreciate the unrelenting support from our customers and stakeholders as we work together to turn this vision into reality.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by prominent dignitaries, including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Senators and Lawmakers, State Governors, Federal Ministers and Captains of industry. This event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in FirstBank’s storied history, solidifying its role as a leader in the African financial industry.
