Renewing focus on SMEs as engine room of economy

Given the immense wealth potentials inherent in the nation’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) scene, Nnamdi Okonkwo, managing director/CEO, Fidelity Bank plc, has said that the fledgling sector, if properly positioned, can play critical roles in diversifying Nigeria’s monolithic economy.

Okonkwo, who made this remark at the maiden edition of the South-East Regional SME Conference in Enugu, said the bank’s renewed focus on the segment was driven by the increasing role of SMEs in the transformation of economies.

“This conference could not have come at a better time than now when the South East/Nigeria is repositioning itself to contain the current economic hamstring occasioned by the precipitous drop in global oil price,” Okonkwo said, adding that “the free fall in global oil prices has constrained the resources available to the new administration”.

While noting that the theme of the conference, “Positioning SMEs for Growth in the South East Region”, was apt and at the heart of the bank’s commitment to building entrepreneurs in the region, Okonkwo pointedly said that the conference sought to build the capacities of SMEs operating in the South-East region of the country as well as provide a veritable platform for them to network amongst themselves. He explained that the bank had realigned its resources and processes to assist SMEs raise their level of competitiveness in a highly volatile environment.

“We created a dedicated SME Banking Division (Fidelity Managed SMEs) which focuses on providing solutions to the challenges faced by SMEs through a multifaceted approach,” he said.

He told the over 100 upcoming businesses in the South East that through its robust business advisory service, Fidelity Bank practically hand-holds and guides entrepreneurs in their quest to build sustainable businesses. 

He proffered fresh remedies to the financing constraints hindering the growth of SMEs in Nigeria, advising more financial institutions to deliver low cost banking transactions to small businesses. This move, Okonkwo explained, would enable small businesses build up relevant activities/transaction history to put them in pole position to access requisite funds from formal lenders.

Alluding to the need for fund providers to reduce the risk associated with SME financing by offering customised product paper loans, Okonkwo said: “We have developed cluster lending programmes that identify market peculiarities. Some of these programmes include: Fidelity Aba Leather Cluster Credit Product Paper, Obosi Industrial Cluster Credit Product, Credit Product for Medical Doctors and pharmacists, Fidelity Commercial Support Short Term Loans, etc.”

Speaking in the same vein, Aku Odinkemelu, executive director, South, Fidelity Bank Plc, said the provision of professional services (accounting, HR, inventory mgt.) support to SMEs at discounted prices would help SMEs overcome some of the funding barriers.

“We have developed a partnership with Sage to develop FSBA+, a product that integrates Sage One Accounting Software to the FSBA to enhance recording for our SMEs,” she told attendees, adding that the bank planned to launch an online marketplace to enable small businesses take advantage of the myriad of opportunities which the internet affords.

“GreenMall is an online marketplace with fully integrated electronic commerce capabilities (i.e., online payment engine, delivery logistics, advertising boards, business networking opportunities, etc.) for small businesses,” she further added.

Based on its unique SME banking model, the executive director stated that the bank has earned the recognition of policy makers, opinion leaders as well as its peers in the country’s financial services industry.