STERLING Bank Plc is partnering with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, to drive the export of agricultural produce in the country.

The move, according to the bank, is part of its support for the diversification programme of the federal government.

Under the partnership, Sterling Bank has powered the Information Communication Technology, ICT, laboratory of the South West Regional office of the council by providing 24-hour internet service for the staff and entrepreneurs exporting products outside the country.

A statement from the bank quoted Kayode Lawal, executive director of the bank, who spoke at the launch of the ICT laboratory in Lagos, recently, to have said the partnership with NEPC will be sustained beyond the launch of the ICT laboratory.

The executive director noted that agriculture and exports were closely related and that the bank was working aggressively to drive agricultural and export initiatives in the country because they would help to create employment for the teeming population of the country.

He said significant export of made in Nigeria goods was the only direction the country could take now because Nigeria is the largest economy as well as the largest crude oil exporter on the African continent, but was lagging behind in terms of export of other products.

Earlier, Olusegun Awolowo, chief executive officer, NEPC, appreciated Sterling Bank for the partnership and the synergy the initiative would produce.

He noted: “We are doing many things with the Bank. We hope it (Sterling Bank) will prove to be the number one export bank in the country.”

He said the council had six regional offices across the country and it was its intention to have one smart office in each state of the federation in a bid to drive export businesses to realise the diversification programme of the federal government.

—  Apr 3, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT

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