Enhancing the productivity and profitability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) remains a key commitment for First City Monument Bank (FCMB). The bank continues to provide funding, capacity building, advisory, and other forms of support to boost SMEs’ overall contributions to economic development.
FCMB, recognized as the top Bank for SMEs in Nigeria in the latest Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey report by KPMG, organized a free comprehensive capacity building and empowerment programme for women entrepreneurs in Ogun State. This initiative was held in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of the State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, on February 5, 2020.
Themed “Supporting Women Businesses to Scale Up in 2020,” the programme attracted hundreds of existing and start-up entrepreneurs across Ogun State. It also brought together seasoned professionals from the Bank of Industry (BoI), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among others. The focus was on business and skills development, marketing, finance, taxation, cost and revenue management, business plan writing, and other topical issues.
Mrs. Bukola Smith, the Executive Director of Business Development at FCMB, highlighted the increasing role and impact of SMEs, particularly women-owned businesses. She emphasized the need for women to be equipped with the requisite skills and resources to excel in the SMEs ecosystem.
Emphasizing FCMB’s role as the number one Bank for SMEs in Nigeria, Mrs. Smith mentioned the bank’s strong foundation in offering cutting-edge solutions under key pillars of support, including access to capital, capacity building, advisory services, networking opportunity, and technology.
In her address, the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Abiodun, expressed her support and excitement for FCMB’s SheVentures initiative, emphasizing the importance of financial empowerment in eradicating poverty among women in the developing world.
FCMB provides various offerings to SMEs in Nigeria, including SME Advisory Services, the SheVentures initiative, and the FCMB Quickloans platform. Through these initiatives, the bank has significantly impacted individuals, businesses, and the nation’s economy, especially through job and wealth creation.
The Bank has benefitted over 2000 women entrepreneurs through the SheVentures initiative, providing them with enhanced support including access to finance, training, and mentoring with the unique benefit of zero-interest rates for an initial period of three months.
For more information about FCMB, please visit www.fcmb.com.
See pictures from the event below:
