Access Bank plc has reiterated its commitment to financial empowerment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for women and youths in Africa.
Speaking at the African Sustainable CEO Business Roundtable in Lagos, Herbert Wigwe, GMD, Access Bank, who was represented by Victor Etuokwu, executive director, Personal Banking, said: “The world is embarking on a new age; the age of the entrepreneur, the agile SME owner, and the flexible innovator. In Access Bank we have a team that helps drives this and add values to SMEs. Finance is not the major issue, but capacity building and understanding opportunities that abound in the business environment. We also have program that supports women entrepreneurs because we find it interesting working with them.”
He also said: “The bank aims to be a Tier 1 SME bank to young entrepreneurs and seeks to achieve this through integrated partnership and provision of proactive business banking solutions which makes our clients winners on all front. SMEs and entrepreneurs are crucial for tracing new paths to more sustainable and inclusive growth, thanks to their role in developing and diffusing innovation and providing employment. This is one of the several reasons why we recognize the role of women as multipliers in the country.”
The United Nations Global Compact, organisers of the programme, charged African CEO to collaborate in contributing development in Africa.
Read also: Access Bank emerges Africa’s Most Sustainable Bank
In his remark, executive director, UN Global Impact, George Kell enjoined local networks to partner to help achieve economic growth in the continent. He added, “the UN Global Compact will support CEO’S and the Nigerian government in their efforts to sustain future businesses in Africa. This is why we have outlined some call to actions which include a call for Business to Governments to Address Corruption and Foster Good Government, among other requests.
The bank has continually spearheaded sustainable growth, capacity building and entrepreneurship in the country, as it was adjudged the “Best Nigerian Company in Corporate Citizenship 2014” in the first ever competitive index on corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, by CSR-In-Action. It has also won the World Finance Magazine “Most Sustainable Bank In Nigeria 2014” and the BusinessDay “Best Bank in CSR 2014” award. Access Bank is rated B (Fitch) and A+ Agusto & Co.
