ProvidusBank has restated its commitment to supporting its clients in the quest to grow a sustainable export-based domestic economy.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ProvidusBank, Walter Akpani, stated this in his welcome address at the financial institution’s hybrid 3rd Non-Oil Export Summit in Lagos.
Akpani who was represented by the Deputy Managing Director ProvidusBank, Mr. Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, said that Non-Oil Export Summit series was introduced as part of the lender’s desire for continuous collaboration with major stakeholders in the non-oil export space.
According to him, the summit enables the bank to solidify its support for its stakeholders in agri-business, mining and metals, African fashion and general trading businesses within Nigeria, thereby creating opportunities for growth in export volume and trade earnings.
The ProvidusBank boss, who disclosed that the latest edition of the summit, focusing on the theme, “The pathway to growing Non-Oil Export in Nigeria,” follows previous successful ones held in the fourth quarter of 2022 and in the 2nd quarter of 2023, said that Fashion Export was included in the third edition of the event, because the bank wanted, “to beam strong ray of light on the earning possibilities embedded in African fashion export,” even as it continues to upscale capacity in the agric business, mining and metals.
He said: “As a future forward bank, we have advanced in our support for export business through template settings and other ambitious strategies to gain a significant share of market in the Business. This event is therefore in advancement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s objectives towards a sustainable and self-sufficient growth in non-oil export business in Nigeria.”
He pledged ProvidusBank’s commitment to always providing all the support it can muster for importers who were at the summit because they wanted to seek out opportunities in the non-oil export space.
“Please be reassured that ProvidusBank stands ready to support our clients as we work together in these efforts to grow a sustainable export-based economy,” Akpani said.
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In his speech at the summit, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr Ezra Yakusak, who was represented by the Regional Coordinator, NEPC’s South-West Regional Office, Mr. Akintunde Folorunsho, commended ProvidusBank for its support non-oil export business.
According to him, with some of the world’s largest economies, such as China and India, setting targets for reducing oil imports by as much as 50 per cent, coupled with the fact that many countries grappling with oil dependency like Nigeria are striving to diversify their exports, the nation cannot afford to be left behind.
Stressing the need for the country to boost non-oil exports, he noted that some of the wealthiest countries in the world such as the United States, China and Germany, do not export oil.
In his presentation, the Managing Director, Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Mr. Abba Bello, who was represented by the Head of the Bank’s Lagos Regional Office, Daniella Jarikre, focused on the bank’s mandate and how it has funded a lot of exporters to record significant growth in their businesses.
The NEXIM boss encouraged exporters who require credit to approach the bank to discuss their proposals, stressing that many exporters who met NEXIM Bank’s requirements obtained loans without having to do anything that was unofficial.
The summit also featured presentations by key resource persons such as the Founder, Africa Fashion Week, Olori Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, the Chief Operating Officer, Mitsun Group, Mr. Ikenna Egbukole, Managing Director, Sunbeth Global Concepts, Mr. Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, the Managing Director, BPL Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ajibade Ogunbiyi and the MD, Sebore International Farms Limited, Mr Aminu Murtala Nyako, among others.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), were among major stakeholders that participated in the summit.
