By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu – The Bank of Industry (BOI) has urged enterprising South East businessmen and women with sound business ideas to come forward for single-digit loans from the bank.
The Regional Head (South-East) of the bank, Mr Obaro Osah, made the appeal during the BOI Special Day at the ongoing 2017 Enugu International Trade Fair.
Osah noted that the bank was established to stimulate industrial as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing a single-digital loan to business start-ups and striving businesses.
He noted that the bank would want South East entrepreneurs to “come close’’ and be guided on how to grow their businesses and create employment through the BOI loan scheme.
“The BOI loan is for everybody in the country as far as the person is a businessman or woman.
“We want everybody, even the unlettered, to come to our offices to learn how to apply and meet up our requirement to secure our interest-free or single-digit loan as the case might be.
“The bank believe that the South East people, who are known to be passionate for enterprise, would have a lot to gain from the bank and contribute to employment and wealth creation in the country,’’ Osah said.
He also noted that the bank was into business mentorship and guidance to ensure that the businesses it had financed would not fail but yield anticipated results.
Earlier, the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, thanked the management of BOI for participating and observing a Special Day at the trade fair.
“I have no doubt that this Special Day being marked and celebrated by the Bank of Industry will provide another veritable opportunity for the bank to deepen its interface with its numerous customers.
“There is also no doubt that BOI will keep on rendering and offering valuable services to the Nigerian people, particularly towards the development of SMEs, with the support and co-operation of all Nigerians,’’ Chime noted.
The fair, which is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, is in line with the Federal Government’s diversification agenda as it provides a platform to showcase non-oil commodities with export potential.
Furthermore, It will provide an opportunity for local and foreign businesses to explore and access the commercially viable South-East market.
The theme of the fair is “Promoting Nigeria’s Industrial Sector and SMEs for Inclusive and Robust Economy”.
The fair, which entered its sixth day, will end on April 10.