The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has announced that it will hold the Fifth edition of its Annual DBN Lecture Series in Abuja.
DBN disclosed that the lecture further affirms the Bank’s unwavering commitment to the needs and challenges of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. This year’s theme is ‘Empowering Nigerian MSMEs in a Challenging Global Landscape.’ The Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, will be the Keynote Speaker.
A panel of eminent industry and business leaders with rich backgrounds from key economic sectors have also been invited to share their wealth of experience and perspectives on the theme. They include the Managing Director/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu; managing director, Founder Institute and Venture Partner at White Hibiscus Capital, Ajuma Ataguba; chairman/CEO of Nord Automobiles Limited, Joshua Oluwatobi Ajayi; and CEO, Futuresoft, Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho.
Speaking on the importance of the lecture theme, DBN’s managing director/CEO, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said, “However, MSMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy and major contributors to job creation and economic growth. Local, regional, and global challenges pose significant threats to their survival and prosperity.
He said the lecture would serve as a veritable platform for experts, leaders of businesses from across industries and sectors, and stakeholders to discuss the myriad of challenges the MSMEs face to channel a way forward for them.