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FIRSTBANK’S SMECONNECT PLATFORM CONTINUES TO HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE.

by Administrator
30 June 2021
in Sponsored Contents
0
FirstBank wins Global Banking and Finance’s Retail Banking CEO Award
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Small Medium Enterprises are the ultimate drivers of the economy, and when they are under-
utilized and not given the much-needed support to thrive, it has an overriding effect on the
overall growth and development of a Nation. In a demonstration of its continuous commitment to
National development, FirstBank’s ‘’SMEConnect' continues to create an atmosphere for SMEs
to build, grow and scale.

SMEConnect is FirstBank’s value proposition geared towards building the capacity of SMEs to
deliver business goals and contribute even more significantly to national development. It is a
digital platform through which SMEs can access the bank’s plethora of services. The portal is
designed to help SMEs access the Bank’s unique propositions and identify various gaps that
hinder their business growth. With FirstBank’s over 127 years of impacting the economy, the
portal helps proffer tailored services solutions, whilst creating avenues for business
improvement, profitability and sustainability. Currently, there are 4,225 registered businesses
and 20,880 users on the platform.

SMEConnect was birthed out of the need to bridge the gap and connect SMEs to resources,
products and services that will enable them to overcome the challenges of poor business
structures, lack of infrastructure, poor market penetration, limited access to information and
professional services, inconsistent government policies amongst others, hence the bank has
identified seven strategic pillars considered essential for the sustainability and growth of SMEs.

The pillars are: connect to infrastructure, connect to talent, capacity building, connect to policy
and regulation, connect to resources, connect to market as well as connect to finance to further
reinforce the Bank’s role in putting SMEs at an advantage whilst contributing to national growth
and development. SMEConnect serves as a medium of connecting SMEs to these solutions
from the comfort of their offices, homes, and anywhere they are in the world. The uniqueness of
the platform lies in the fact that these offerings are either free or substantially discounted.

The unique selling proposition of SMEConnect is the congregation of value-adding products &
services on one platform for easy access and at rates (prices) that are competitive and (in most
cases) discounted. The SMEConnect has special features such as the Business Diagnostic tool
which has been specifically developed to evaluate one’s business and give one a business

effectiveness score, it goes further to tell one what one has done well and what one needs to
improve on. One is also able to request a business coach on the portal and get up to a 34%
discount.

SMEs can also have access to free business advisory services through the business diagnostic
tool, they can showcase their products and services at no cost at all, interact with their
customers and other SMEs alike, Connect to free capacity building workshops, seminars and
webinars and get regular updates on policies and regulations impacting SMEs. All these
interesting features combine to make FirstBank the first-choice bank amongst SMEs.

Other features of the SMEConnect platform include enlightening blog articles that provide tips
on growing businesses, e-newsletters, and useful webinar content.

What are the pre-requisites for SMEs to be listed on the portal?

SMEs can join the SMEConnect community by
visiting https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/ to sign up seamlessly for free. Users only need
to enter their email addresses and create a password to get started. Businesses must be
registered and have a corporate account with FirstBank to list their business on the business
hub and access all the beneficial offerings on SMEConnect.

Furthermore, individuals and businesses can register to be users of SMEConnect without listing
their business. SMEConnect is open to businesses operating across all sectors.

Businesses who wish to list their businesses on the business hub in addition to being registered
and having a corporate account with FirstBank must accept the terms and conditions of the
platform.

There are some exceptions, however, businesses that deal in cryptocurrencies, sports betting
and other similar business ventures that do not align with the Bank’s T&Cs
(https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/terms)are currently not allowed to be listed on the
business hub.

Visit https://smeconnect.firstbanknigeria.com/  to sign-up and enjoy the rich benefits the
FirstBank SMEConnect offers.

Culled from Nairametrics

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Akinrimisi Olabode Samuel

Deputy Marketing Director, CWay Foods and Beverages

Dr. Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi

Marketing Director, Pladis

Omolara Banjoko

Marketing Manager, Friesland

Tolu Olanipekun

Head of Marketing, Mouka foam

Roseline Akure Abaraonye

Head of Marketing, Hayat Nigeria LTD

Maurice Igugu

CMO, Sterling Bank

Adeola Emmanuel Amosun

Group Media Manager, Tolaram

Ediri Ose-Ediale

CEO/Executive Director, ADVAN

O’tega Ogra

Senior Special Assistant to the President On Digital Economy

Yusuf Murtala

Marketing Director, Coca-cola

Osamede Uwubanmwen

Designation  – Commercial Director,  Biogenerics Nigeria Limited

Mr. Chris Wulff-Caesar is the Marketing Director for FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC. He joined the management team in April 2018 and holds a BA (Honors) Degree in Economics from the University of Ghana and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School of the Heriot Watt University in Scotland, United Kingdom.

He is a proven marketer, commercial operator and business leader with over 20 years working experience in both local and international roles for ABInBev, SABMiller and Unilever. His career has seen him accrue a wealth of experience in managing the primary assets of these leading FMCG organizations
i.e. brands and people.

Prior to his appointment to FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Chris was Marketing Director West Africa (Ghana & Nigeria) at ABInBev and member of the board of Accra Brewery Ltd in Ghana. During his tenure, he led the establishment of a formidable brand portfolio which transformed the markets to wrestle share away from incumbent competitors. Whilst at SABMiller, he also held the positions of Category Expansion/Innovation Manager for Africa based in Johannesburg (2010 -2012) and Marketing Director
for Ghana (2007 – 2010).

Chris is an Associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). He is also involved with a few organizations which target the development and establishment of infrastructure for primary education in his home country and is a member of the Changing Lives Endowment Fund (CLEF) which is a non-profit organization set up to influence access to quality education for disadvantaged students.

Emmanuel Agu has over 18 years’ experience across Consulting, Banking and FMCGs (Diageo, Heineken and Jotna Group). A well rounded Business and Commercial Leader with strong track record in business strategy, brand communication/experiential strategy, portfolio commercialization, insight generation that has delivered strong ROI on cutting-edge innovations, and high performing team leadership. Skilled in regional/national communication and local insight generation that delivers strong brand growth. Vast experience in cause marketing. Very knowledgeable about the Nigerian/African consumer space, their habits and attitudes towards brands.

Agu has successfully steered and managed over 20 brands in the Nigerian marketing landscape in the last two decades.

Strong Marketing Communication professional with an MBA in Marketing Management and  MSc in Media and Marketing Communication from Lagos State University and Pan Atlantic University Lekki respectively. A certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a member of the body  of fellows of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN), Institute of Professional Managers & Administrators (FIPMA) and Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC).

John is CEO of the Association of Australian National Advertisers (AANA), the peak industry body representing Australia’s advertisers and has been in the role since September 2017. Prior to the AANA John had a 25 year marketing career in FMCG, working in several  categories including food, confectionery, household cleaners and personal care,  with a number of global companies including Unilever, Kellogg, Nestle and Reckitt Benckiser.  His most recent role was CMO at Unilever ANZ.

Originally from Yorkshire, England, John has lived and worked in several countries, including the US, Canada and the Middle East. He lives in Sydney along with his wife, Jacquie and two daughters, Leah & Anna.

Aggrey leads the commercial and client consulting functions as Chief Growth Officer for WECA. In his previous role as head of the Kantar insight business in Nigeria, he drove the integration of the various Kantar companies into one functional business unit.  Prior to that role he was CEO for TNS East Africa. This was after he spent over three years leading TNS Connect, the then digital and technology practice of TNS Global, across Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East.

He has led consulting projects across a diverse range of business sectors, and areas of expertise in Nigeria and across West, East, Central and Southern Africa.

Aggrey began his marketing career with Delta Beverages, the leading brewery in Zimbabwe, before crossing over to Probe Market Research, where he rapidly rose through the ranks to join the leadership team of the business. He then moved to West Africa as head of the quantitative division for RMS Nigeria where he led the reorganisation of the research practice, prior to his promotion to head research and client servicing in Nigeria.

Aggrey has led the TNS RMS Ghana and Nigeria business operating companies, and was the COO of the RMS Group, spanning three continents, prior to the merger with TNS Global, when he was appointed CEO West Africa.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Marketing, Honors degree from the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe and an MBA from ZOU, Zimbabwe. A winner of several awards, Aggrey is a Fellow of the Nigerian Market Research Association (NIMRA).

Bridget is currently the Head, Marketing and Communications for Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. She is a multifaceted marketing professional with more than 23 years of global experience in brand strategy, sponsorships, digital marketing, data analytics and all elements of communications. She has a proven track record in running internal and external corporate communications, as well as products Integrated Marketing Campaigns (IMC) across various countries and sectors including aviation, financial services and non-governmental organizations.

Before joining Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Bridget was Head, Sponsorship and Events for over 7 years (2010- 2017) at First Bank of Nigeria Ltd (now FBN Holdings Plc). She had the responsibility for institutionalising sponsorships and scope of engagement frameworks for the First Bank Group.

Bridget holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Lagos State University and a Post    Graduate degree from the University of Leicester, UK. She is a fellow of the NigeriaN Institute of Marketing (NIMN), a member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), an associate member of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), currently the 2nd vice president for ADVAN (Advertisers Association of Nigeria) and a member of WIMBIZ (Women in Business and Management). She has also participated in various global business and economic summits. Her achievements during her career includes winning the Standard Bank 2018 Marketing Mark of Excellence award and receiving the highest ratings for creativity, innovation and dedication for functional responsibilities at British Airways Plc and the best of British Airways community volunteering award. She effectively managed the British Airways Plc brand, corporate image and reputation in Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, and Uganda between 1998 and 2008.

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