The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)/Bankers’ Forum, Delta State Branch, has slated December 7, 2024 for the 4th edition of its annual lectures, dinner and awards night, with a focus to seek solutions to the harsh operating environment faced by Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
Chairman of CIBN, Delta State Branch, Barr. Charles Ojakovo HCIB, FICMC who is the chief host, while addressing newsmen in Asaba, Delta State capital on the bankers’ preparedness to make the annual discourse/awards a successful programme, disclosed that to set the tone for the event, members are scheduled to visit Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori on December 5, 2024, at Government House, Asaba to interact with him.
He added that the Governor will be the Special Guest of Honour at the event on December 7, where he will be decorated as Grand Patron of CIBN, Delta State Chapter for leading the way in the promotion of MSMEs through impact-making initiatives, including Delta-Cares, MORE WESAP, among others.
Ojakovo said they would use the opportunity to appreciate the Governor for his laudable programmes to create wealth and employment in the state, while seeking to be involved by supporting the government through mentoring of the empowerment/job creation participants/beneficiaries, hence utilising the expertise of CIBN members.
Secretary to State Government (SSG) Dr. Kingsley Emu HCIB, a CIBN member will be the guest of honour, while Ojakovo further said that the CIBN which parades an array of other accomplished professionals who are also members of the Delta State Executive Council, will participate actively at the annual programme in continuation of their contributions to the CIBN. They are Chief Fidelis Tilije FCIB, Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen HCIB, his Economic Planning counterpart and Dr. Barry Gbe HCIB, immediate past Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning and presently, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, all of whom Ojakovo described as key stakeholders in the affairs of the CIBN, He said the three of them would be at the event, also as guests of honour.
President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju FCIB, the special guest of honour and Registrar/Chief Executive of CIBN, Akin Morakinyo, HCIB, a guest of honour are expected to grace the occasion in Asaba.
Also at the event holding at Orchid Hotels, DBS road, Asaba, the State Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Reginald Bayoko mni and Permanent Secretary/Accountant-General of Delta State, Mrs. Joy Enwa will be conferred as patron and patroness of the CIBN in Delta State respectively. This will come up during the dinner/awards presentation starting at 6pm, while earlier, the annual lecture will hold at 11am at same venue.
Ojakovo informed that this year’s edition provides a point of intersection between financial institutions and the MSMEs to point the way forward for the critical MSME sector in the state and entire country, adding that this is the reason the theme of the annual lecture has been carefully selected, which is “Policies and Roles of CBN and Financial Institutions in Supporting MSMEs and FGN’s ‘Grow Nigerian Project’ to Achieve Economic Growth and Stability”.
Ojakovo saying that he looked forward to the success of the event, assured the public that those with knowledge of the discourse have been selected, from both the academia, the public and private sectors to dissect the topic of the annual lecture and inspire a long-awaited end to the challenges facing MSMEs in the country.
Ojakovo informed journalists that the Chairperson of the occasion will be Prof. (Mrs.) Stella Chiemeke, Vice Chancellor of University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, who is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a patroness of Delta State branch, while the keynote address will be delivered by the Executive Secretary, Delta State Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Development Agency (DEMSMEDA), Dr. Godwin Adolor, also a CIBN member.
Also among key dignitaries expected to be in attendance is the guest speaker, the MD/CEO of Amju Unique Microfinance Bank, Dr. Jonathan Ososuakpor.
Ojakovo concluded that “banks need to come and tell us what they are doing, why are they not lending to MSMEs and at what rate. I expect the MSMEs across Delta State to come and engage with the banks on different issues agitating their minds, so that together we all can find a way forward because MSMEs are critical to the country’s economic growth and stability.”
