This is what Odunola Oyegade, executive
director, Mopeth Group of Companies, told participants at the 41st
edition of the Diamond Bank BusinessXpress seminar in Lagos.
“You need to take time to groom
yourself, package yourself properly and invest in yourself,” she said.
She added that investing in yourself is key to understanding finance
which helps you in investment decisions.
Reading books and getting someone very
sincere can help you to invest in yourself she said, adding that you
need to be discipline with your spending.
Investing in yourself is as important as
having a savings account where you can confidently go and withdraw
money when needed. The presence of that money provides you with a sense
of confidence and security, says experts.
Successful entrepreneurs who shared
their stories at the event included Kolawole Ogunbanjo, CEO of Avis
Nigeria, who also stressed the importance of reading about
entrepreneurs. Ogunbanjo added that Nigerian MSMEs should leverage on
global networking through franchise, and should also have alternative
plans for the business, while benchmarking their companies against other
companies.
In further demonstration of its
commitment and support for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(MSMEs) in Nigeria by providing financial and non-financial
intervention, Diamond Bank plc, has taken entrepreneurs through how to
build and breakthrough in business in its 41st edition of the
BusinessXpress seminar, held in Lagos.
The seminar, tagged, “Build Up and
Breakthrough” is aimed at educating MSMEs on how to build capacity in
the area of financial management. The topics discussed included, ‘Build
Up to Breakthrough,’ ‘Introduction to Cash Flow and Diamond Bank
Offerings for MSMEs.’
Addressing the participants at the
seminar, Uzoma Dozie, executive director, retail banking, Diamond Bank,
stressed the need for entrepreneurs to have well-articulated visions for
their businesses.
According to him, “Entrepreneurs need to
have a well-articulated vision, which involves understanding the
perspective of their customers and staff, because a business grows as
her customers grow and capacity building is what will help MSMEs to
sustain the growth of their businesses.”
“Reduction of physical cash flow in
MSMEs, by making use of electronic banking channels, which helps to
monitor expenses and inculcate financial discipline, is fundamental to
the ultimate success of a business,” Dozie added.
Jude Anele, head of retail banking,
spoke on the contribution of MSMEs to the growth of the economy,
disclosing that the bank is not just providing loans, but also building
the capacities of MSMEs, while insisting that the success of MSMEs is
crucial to Diamond Bank and the economy at large.
On the bank’s determination to continue
with the seminars, Chima Nnadozie, head, micro, small and medium
enterprises segment, revealed that Diamond Bank has been supporting
MSMEs with loans without collateral since 2009, offering a total range
of solutions that MSMEs need, and has been encouraged to continue the
seminars because the feedback from participants has been very positive.
Olugbolahan Mark-George, executive partner of Mark-George Consultants, led the participants to the issue of cash flow.
One of the regular participants, Dayo
Adeoye of Epitome Foods Limited, who was attending the seminar for the
third time, stated that Diamond Bank has shown great support for MSMEs
through the seminars.
Adeoye noted that hearing people share
their experiences makes him certain of the future of his business,
adding that he has gained more insight into ways of properly managing
his business. He said, “The seminar has impacted positively on my
business, which has expanded significantly.”
HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE
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