Diamond Bank, Pan African University Unveil Outstanding Entrepreneurs

Jude Anele, Head Retail Banking Diamond Bank Plc, Mrs. Imasi Yemisi Victoria, CEO Yellow-Point Media; one of the five outstanding entrepreneurs of the Diamond Bank’s‘Building Entrepreneurs Today’ series 2 and Uzoma Dozie, ED, Lagos/West Business Diamond Bank at the unveiling event in Lagos on Wednesday.

Diamond Bank Plc in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan African University (PAU) has unveiled the five outstanding entrepreneurs of the ‘Building Entrepreneurs Today’ (BET) programme, series 2. Each of the entrepreneurs were presented with a grant of N3 million to boost and expand their businesses.

The outstanding entrepreneurs were revealed at a well attended dinner event at the prestigious Terra Culture in Lagos on Wednesday. Present at the event were senior officials of Diamond Bank, top management staff of PAU and all the 50 entrepreneurs who were trained by the EDC for six months among other dignitaries.

The exceptional entrepreneurs are Mr. Yusuf Kolawale, Creative director of the bespoke label ‘KolaKuddus Couture,’ Mrs. Yemisi Imasi Victoria, CEO of Yellow-Point Media; Mrs. Alice Umoh Oluwaseun, founder of Switbud Global Service Limited-a Confectionary Company; Mr. Tope Osuntokun, Super Yarsh Toilet & Sanitary Services is a green social entrepreneur that provides public toilet and bathroom Services and Mr. Okpe Tobenna Charles, an Enugu-based farmer.

Speaking shortly after formally presenting the winners with their cheques, Mr. Jude Anele, Head Retail Banking of Diamond Bank stated that the credit risk of the remaining 10 entrepreneurs have dropped because of the training and would be qualified for loans at four per cent less than the prevailing lending rate from the bank.

The Building Entrepreneurs Today (BET) is a programme organised by the EDC in collaboration with Diamond Bank Plc, to teach budding entrepreneurs various skills for running profitable businesses.

Also Speaking at the event, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, Executive Director, Lagos and West Businesses, Diamond Bank PLC said the business of banking is not just about lending money, but about capacity building of its customers, remarking that Diamond Bank through the BET programme is partnering with existing entrepreneurs to help them grow bigger.

One of the awardees, Mrs. Yemisi Imasi Victoria, a former broadcaster with Channels Television, who is presently the Chief Executive Officer of Yellow-Point Media said, “I’m really grateful to the organisers and sponsors of the programme because they have enhanced my capacity and ability to operate as an entrepreneur not just on the local level but also on the international scene.”
“I went into business about one and a half-year ago and they have really helped me to improve my turnover with this training.”