Development Bank of Nigeria holds its annual lecture series
By Ujunwa Eunice Nwankwo
The development bank of Nigeria held its annual lecture series in Abuja with the theme ” Positioning Nigerians MSMEs for growth in dynamic policy environment”.
The event brought together business owners, entrepreneurs, banks, financial institutions and agencies, government representatives among others.
During the event,a keynote lecture was given by a Kenyan business woman, Mrs Flora Mutahi, the managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Melvin Marsh International Limited Kenya.
In her lecture series, Mrs Flora lectured on the processes involved in making a business to succeed and grow massively. She emphasized on the importance of context, capacity,compliance and collaboration to aid an MSME success.
She urged business owners to clarify their purpose,create the right mindset,always be prepared to take up processes and grow their businesses with the right intentions and perspective.
She added that knowing one’s customer and when they are ready for your goods and or services are of great important. She recalled how she started her business and how it grew to become an international venture.
Mrs Flora concluded by urging business owners and MSMEs not to relent or lose courage in driving their passion for business no matter what it maybe. In her final note, she advised that business owners should not wait for policies to settle nor wait to become big but to always to prepared to actualise their dreams
In a panel session moderated by Ms Lilade Awogbade and panelled by Profit. Aliyu Dehiru .M. of the department of Economics, Bayero University,Kano and Mr. Jelani Aliyu,MFR, an automotive designer. Prof. Aliyu stated that the percentage of MSMEs is very low in Nigeria which will not drive the economy to develop country.
He urged investors and banks to empower Nigerian MSME businesses. Mr. Jelani added that MSMEs can only be positioned for growth in a dynamic policy environment where the voices of businesses are heard and considered.
The conference ended with a closing remarks thanking the participants for coming and reminding business owners owners that DBN in past 7years has empowered businesses with N1.1trillion which are today thriving and that they are ready to work and support more businesses.
