Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and LEAP Africa, a leadership development non-profit organisation, are partnering to organise the 11th edition of the CEOs Forum, with a focus on how small businesses can attract funding for sustainable growth.
The CEOs Forum, which was initiated in 2005, brings together local and international speakers for knowledge sharing with entrepreneurs on building sustainable local businesses.
The event is targeted at SMEs founders, captains of industry, private and public sector leaders as well as CEOs drawn from different sectors of the economy. The forum is currently organized as an annual event within the SME space.
With the theme, “Attracting financing for your business: strategies and opportunities,” the forum is slated for Lagos on June 2, 2016, and will attract eminent speakers from different sectors of the economy.
The chief executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, said this is in line within Stanbic IBTC Bank’s commitment to helping Nigeria attain her developmental aspirations, while delivering long-term value to customers, partners, businesses, professionals and the economy at large.
“We value this partnership with LEAP Africa, especially as the focus of this year’s forum resonates well with our own goal of building a new cadre of leadership among business leaders in Nigeria and Africa,” Sanni stated.
He said the spotlight on the SMEs segment could not have come at a better time as efforts to diversify the country’s economy intensify, saying “SMEs constitute the pivot of the economy.
He however said that SMEs should realise that attracting financing and ensuring sustainability is only guaranteed by planning, delivery and profitability.
Executive director, LEAP Africa, Mrs Iyadunni Olubode, said underlining this year’s theme is the recognition that many Nigerian entrepreneurs struggle with sourcing funding due to both internal and external challenges.
“However, successful business development requires additional sources of capital to support growth and enable strategic investments. LEAP Africa is available to help business owners gain deeper insight and acquire the relevant skills in entrepreneurship and business.
“Among others, the 11th CEOs forum seeks to expose entrepreneurs to the breadth of financing options available in the African context, including angel investors, venture capital, private equity, challenge funds, development financing and the stock market. The forum will also equip emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and tools to enhance their business readiness to attract financing and effectively manage investor relationships,” Olubode said.