3 days Ago By Temitope Aina
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc has announced plans to host the fifth edition of its Annual DBN Lecture Series on September 25, at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja. In a statement on Monday, the event will focus on addressing the challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises in Nigeria, under the theme: ‘Empowering Nigerian MSMEs in a Challenging Global Landscape’. It stated that the lecture highlighted its dedication to supporting MSMEs, and would feature the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, as the keynote speaker.
It added a panel of notable industry leaders would also share insights on navigating the current business environment, including Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency Abba Aliyu; Managing Director of Founder Institute and Venture Partner at White Hibiscus Capital; Ajuma Ataguba and others. Speaking on the importance of the lecture, DBN’s Managing Director/CEO, Tony Okpanachi, noted that despite MSMEs being the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, they faced significant threats due to local, regional, and global challenges. Related News DBN partners GIZ to boost MSME financing Women account for 72% of N787bn fund beneficiaries – DBN LivingTrust Mortgage Bank repays N950m loan to DBN He said the lecture would provide a platform for business leaders and stakeholders to address these challenges and chart a path forward for MSMEs.
“Access to affordable financing remains a major obstacle for MSMEs. The disruptions in global supply chains have also impacted the production and profitability of these businesses,” Okpanachi stated. He added that the Nigerian government was committed to supporting the MSME sector and had introduced several interventions to stimulate growth.
The DBN Annual Lecture Series, according to Okpanachi, is one of the bank’s initiatives to support the government’s efforts in reviving the MSME sector. He expressed optimism that the year’s event would generate creative solutions to boost the productivity of the real sector..
