Microsoft and First Bank of Nigeria are teaming together to further technology adoption, skills and capacity development among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
The partners have announced they are working together to empower and create an enabling environment for SMEs in Nigeria to thrive and find more creative ways to solve their business growth challenges.
FirstBank and Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide SMEs with value-added products, services and offerings covering certain business support services including access to premium content, business networks, capacity building initiatives and innovative offers of banking and technology services to First Bank’s SMEs.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony held at the Microsoft Nigeria Office, Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking at the event, Deputy Managing Director, FirstBank Nigeria, Gbenga Shobo expressed First Bank’s unwavering commitment to the business success of SMEs in Nigeria with its array of products and bespoke solutions, specially designed to help grow and sustain SMEs.
He said, “We are committed to the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and ensuring their sustained business growth as well as providing the necessary tools to support that growth and Nigeria’s economy at large.”
General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso who was excited about how both organizations are empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve more, mentioned that
“Our approach at Microsoft has been one of empowerment and collaboration,” said Banuso. “Initially, our work with SMEs was strongly focused on bringing them online to boost their productivity and competitiveness. Over the years, as we have worked with and learned from SMEs, our focus has evolved to provide them with a more holistic and game-changing offering, which is: Access to technology, markets, finance, information, skills, and services.”
