…Partners Obiano administration
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has disclosed plans to partner the Anambra State government in renewed efforts to assist and grow the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state. This move, perhaps, is driven by the increasing role of MSMEs in the transformation of economies.
Okonkwo, who made this known at a breakfast meeting of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) held recently at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, described Anambra as a unique state that boasts of thriving commercial cities such as Nnewi and Onitsha, among others. He noted that the bank was well positioned to provide support to businesses that empower the citizens and boost the economy of the state.
Providing valuable insights into Fidelity Bank’s unique approach to supporting MSMEs in the country, the bank’s boss said the lender established the Managed SME Division to provide one-on-one advisory access to market for its teeming customers. “We want to guide aspiring entrepreneurs on how to run successful businesses. Our goal is to build requisite capacity in order to create the Aliko Dangotes of tomorrow,” he added.
Also speaking, the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, said his state provides substantial opportunities for attracting investment in Nigeria. Obiano, who was represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, said, “I have absolutely no doubt that any objective assessment of all the 36 states of the federation would put Anambra as the state that has the greatest chances of producing the most surprising development results in the next five years,” the governor said.
He explained that he inherited a state with an average ambition, which later transformed to a giant investment magnet through his government’s strategic re-focusing and commitment to excellence. “What is widely accepted today as the Anambra investment success story is essentially driven by the resolve of my administration to open a new vista of excellence for Ndi Anambra,” Obiano said.
“It is a product of a bold determination to change the story of our people and to replace our single story with multiple stories. To the grace of Almighty God, our story has become multi-textured and multi-layered today,” he stated, adding that the government’s “exploits in this regard can be broken down into the four pillars in our blueprint.”