Union Bank Nigeria Plc has entered
into a partnership with Connect Nigeria to reward 100 Nigerian small and
medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the Top 100 Emerging SMEs awards ceremony
held in Lagos, recently.
The award ceremony is an initiative
of Connect Nigeria and was sponsored by Union Bank. It was organised to
challenge, encourage and recognise Nigerian SME businesses.
A statement said the campaign for the
awards kicked-off in February 2018 with a call for nominations of emerging SMEs
that have distinguished themselves in providing excellent products and services
for due recognition, honour and celebration.
Union Bank said it recognised the 100
emerging businesses as part of its yearlong celebration of 100 years of
operation from a record total of 13,470 nominations in 25 broad categories.
The Head, Corporate Communications
and Marketing, Union Bank, Ogochukwu Ekeide, commended the recipients for their
hard work and dedication and expressed the bank’s willingness to partner,
support and reward SMEs.
On his part, the Managing Director,
Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, said businesses in Nigeria were beginning to
understand the dynamics of doing business in a global economy and putting
systems and structures in place, to be able to compete globally.
Okafor, who was represented by the
Head, Business Development, Connect Nigeria, Uzo Anekwe, said Connect Nigeria
was committed to investing in SMEs because they would be the future of Nigeria.
He said, “100 free tables will be
given to all the winners of this year’s event, to showcase and exhibit their
products and services at Africa’s largest SME event in April 2019.
“All winners will enjoy free one-year
membership on the Club-connect Platform with all the benefits that come with it”.
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