Diamond Bank Boosts Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria

In continuation of its support for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, Diamond Bank in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan African University is set to unveil the five successful entrepreneurs for the final phase of the 'Building Entrepreneurs Today' series (BET 2). This is the second edition of the capacity building initiative.

According to Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications of Diamond Bank, Building Entrepreneurs Today is a programme that teaches budding entrepreneurs various skills for running profitable businesses. The unveiling ceremony will hold at Terra Kouture on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Lagos.

The BET programme is in three phases. In the first stage, from a host of applicants, fifty entrepreneurs are selected to undergo a thirty day intensive Entrepreneurial Management Training. In phase two, fifteen top entrepreneurs emerged and embarked on a Business Development Support programme. In the just concluded final stage, 5 entrepreneurs will be selected for the Next Level Award where they shall be presented with N3million each as seed money for their business and a nine months Support Service provision by the bank.

 "Diamond Bank has always demonstrated its commitment to help entrepreneurs develop capacity to run profitable businesses. The BET programme has proved to be a very successful means to achieving this. That is why we have once again sponsored resourceful entrepreneurs to learn how to run their businesses successfully. It is our hope that they will make good use of the lessons learnt and run thriving businesses in the not-too-distant future,"
she said.

Trimnell further stated that, "In addition to the BET programme, Diamond Bank boasts of the biggest portfolio of programmes supporting the Micro Small Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME) sector. These include our Diamond BusinessXpress Seminar, where entrepreneurs come to learn new ways of running successful businesses; Diamond BusinessClinic, where they get a one-on-one chance to meet with consultants in various business fields; and the Diamond BusinessXpress Club which affords entrepreneurs the opportunity to network and exchange business ideas."

It will be recalled that the first edition of the BET programme took place in 2010 when Diamond Bank empowered five entrepreneurs with a seed capital of N3 million each after they emerged tops in the business development course at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan African University.

"Our commitment to this initiative in particular, and support for MSMEs in general, is predicated on the fact that indigenous business will stimulate growth in the nation's economy," concludes Trimnell.