Sterling Bank assures of sectors partnership for economic growth

Sterling Bank Plc has assured that it will continue to partner all sectors to ensure the growth of the nation’s economy.

This assurance was given at the weekend by the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola at the Pret-a-porter, a fashion show sponsored by the Bank in Lagos.

He also said that the sponsorship of the show has again demonstrated the Bank’s reputation as one of the leading institutions spearheading the development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Pret-a-Porter is a soiree and networking event that brought together the best of the players in the fashion industry for an evening of intimate ideas exchange and an exhibition of ready-to-wear collections from some of Nigeria’s leading fashion expressions.

The exhibition which is an initiative of Lagos Laid Bac and held at Wheat Baker Hotel, Ikoyi was attended by government officials, editors, civil society, retail organizations and academics who shared their experiences on value chain development and discussed how best smallholders can be incorporated into value chains in order to promote garment production and rural development. Some of those who attended the event included the Assistant Creative Director, Ruff and Tumble, Ifueko Igiehon; Founder of Konga, Mr. Sim Shagaya; the CCO, Mr. Mark Russell; and Head of Fashion, Konga, Mr. Ochije Nnani.

Mr. Atilola in a statement signed by the Bank’s Head of Communications, Mr. Ayoola Ashaolu noted that the recent changes in African countries, particularly in Nigeria have necessitated the private sector involvement in tackling the issue of youth unemployment through enterprise, hence the sponsorship of the programme by the Bank.

The statement reads in part: “African countries have a younger population in comparison to most other continents. In addition, the unemployment rate among young people is high despite the fact that most of them have received a high level of education.

The Bank noted that this situation has led many youths to work in the informal economy under difficult working conditions largely in the absence of social protection. “Youth unemployment is a critical issue for business concerns which is why we at Sterling Bank are willing to support young entrepreneurs that would like to create sustainable enterprises”, the Bank stated in the statement.