Wema Bank Plc, the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has
once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment towards developing the
capacity of SMEs in Nigeria to scale by launching the fourth edition of its
SME Business School in Port Harcourt.
Designed to help build capacity for SMEs in the country, Wema Bank’s SME
Business School was launched in Lagos in 2021. The second edition took
place virtually, while the third edition happened in Abuja. Now making its
journey to the South-South geopolitical zone of the country, the initiative
has helped to equip SMEs in various parts of the country with the business
management knowledge and skills required to effectively run their
enterprises and respond to the ever-evolving challenges of today’s business
world.
According to the Divisional Head, Retail Business at Wema Bank, Dotun
Ifebogun, the Wema SME Business School was birthed in a bid to close the
critical knowledge gap in the SME space in Nigeria, and each edition of the
programme takes place in a different part of the country to ensure that
SMEs all around the country participate and benefit.
He mentioned that the 4th edition of the Wema SME Business School, which
holds in Port Harcourt and starts on Monday, November 14, 2022, would
impart contemporary business management skills and knowledge to growing
businesses operating within the South-South region of the country. “We
intend to make them champions and successful enterprises, thus supporting
the economic growth of the country,” he said.
He disclosed that the bank has collaborated with top-notch consultants from
renowned organizations within and outside Nigeria, including Deloitte,
Facebook (Meta), and Nexford University, to serve as facilitators on the
programme and ensure that the participants get an immersive and invaluable
learning experience.
Dotun further noted that the initiative would be a meaningful addition to
SMEs seeking to scale and strengthen their market positions.
“As an SME-friendly bank, we understand that starting and running a
business in Nigeria is no small feat, and there are lots of challenges that
SMEs face.
“We started the Wema SME Business School to equip them with relevant and
practical knowledge that will guide them in the effective running of their
businesses and to surmount any challenges that they encounter.
“Through this, we can tackle problems such as poor access to finance, poor
market access, technological disruptions, and macroeconomic uncertainty.
All in all, we will equip them with fresh ideas and insights that will help
them to take their businesses to a higher level,” he said.
Businesses interested in leveraging this opportunity and participating in
the Wema SME Business School 4.0 can register with the link
https://forms.gle/TRj7ACzTQJkWrb3D8.
The Wema SME Business School is one of the various beyond-banking
initiatives offered by Wema Bank PLC to complement its bespoke financial
offerings for SMEs.
