Providus Bank Partners GEN Nigeria to Deepen Entrepreneurship

Raheem Akingbolu

Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), has announced a strategic partnership with Providus Bank Nigeria to deepen the entrepreneurship skills of Nigerians and drive growth in the economy.

According to the partners, the partnership would give budding entrepreneurs access to finance, capacity building, networking opportunity and ecosystem development.

At a media briefing in Lagos, Managing Director, GEN Nigeria, Dr. Olawale Anifowose said, “this partnership basically means that the work we are doing at the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria can be scaled. For the better part of our activities of GEN Nigeria, we only focus on 3 or 4 states but with this partnership, we are able to scale it to 20 locations and that is very significant for us because we want to make the resources and reach more accessible for Nigerians.”

According to Anifowose, under this partnership, GEN Nigeria and Providus Bank will collaborate on various activities including; entrepreneurship programs that would promote talent, innovation, and access to vital resources and mentorship. 

He also pointed out that there would be financial support, courtesy Providus Bank to boost the entrepreneurship initiatives and enable the organization to scale its impact and reach a wider network of entrepreneurs across the country. According to him, this support will include grants, investment opportunities, and access to financial services tailored for entrepreneurs. Other benefits he mentioned include; capacity building and ecosystem development which will focus on strengthening and expanding the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria by fostering collaborations among stakeholders including startups, investors, and policymakers. 

According to the Team Lead, Strategic Partnership and Businesses Development at Providus Bank, Ms. Oluwadamilola Feyide, “As part of this 1-year strategic partnership, GEN Nigeria and Providus Bank will join forces to further enhance the entrepreneurial landscape in Nigeria. The partnership aims to leverage the strengths and expertise of both organizations to foster innovation, provide capacity-building opportunities, and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive,”