As the wind of entrepreneurship blows across the female gender groups, Sterling Bank Plc has earmarked N1 billion for loans to women owned businesses. Part of the attractions is a 30-day freeze on interest on the loan.
Speaking at the 5th Women Founders Conference last week in Kano, Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, also said the bank is prepared to invest another $100,000 in the next two years in such female-owned businesses.
He told the audience that as entrepreneurs, the women will always be exposed to diverse opinions but they should always remember why they set up those businesses in the first place.
According to him, the best business is that which is set up to solve a problem.
“When a customer continues to validate the product or service of a business as a solution to its problem, then everyone will queue behind it,” Suleiman said.
Head, Sterling’s OneWoman proposition, Ifunanya Ugboko, noted that the collaboration with the Women Founder’s Conference was an evidence of Sterling Bank’s commitment to enriching women’s lives. She said Sterling Bank, through the OneWoman offering, has created dedicated discounted business loans, support facilities, and capacity-building programs for businesses founded for and focused on women.