Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s most trusted financial institutions, in collaboration
with Connect Nigeria has announced the launch of the Top 100 Emerging SMEs campaign at
the just concluded eBusiness fair for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which held recently at
the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
The eBusiness fair, organized by Connect Nigeria and sponsored by Union Bank, is reputed as
one of the largest gatherings of SMEs on the African continent, drawing business owners, startup
founders and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the continent.
The Top 100 Emerging SMEs list is an initiative aimed at identifying, honouring and supporting
Nigeria’s leading upcoming SMEs who have shown resilience by thriving despite the challenging
business environment while maintaining ethical business practices.
Speaking about the launch of the initiative, Union Bank’s Head of Retail Segments, Paul
Aseme said:
“As a bank that recently crossed the century mark, we are committed to
supporting the growth of Nigerian businesses so they can also be profitable and
sustainable in the long term. We will continue supporting the SME sector which
we recognize is a vital part of the Nigerian economy.
Through this project, we intend to acknowledge and celebrate upcoming SMEs
whose hard work and persistence deserve to be recognized.”
The selection process to pick the top 100 emerging SMEs will involve a combination of voters’
polls and judges’ assessments. Criteria to be considered in selecting the top SMEs will include
innovation, scalability, business feasibility, market opportunity, reach and revenue.
Also speaking at the launch, Emeka Okafor, CEO Connect Nigeria said:
“The top 100 SMEs, is a project aimed at amplifying the best from the SME segment in
Nigeria. Through diligent research, we hope to present the most authentic list of top 100
emerging businesses from different industries. We are pleased that Union Bank is
partnering with us on this which is a clear indication of their commitment to the sector and
to Nigeria as a whole.
Interested SMEs are invited to visit http://www.connectnigeria.com/top100/ to submit their entry.
Individuals are also invited to vote for the SMEs of their choice on the same site.
The Top 100 SME List is another example of Union Bank’s continued support for upcoming
Nigerian businesses. Last year, 2017, the Bank, in partnership with Co-creation Hub (CcHub)
launched a first-of-its kind business acceleration program ‘Start up Connect’ which is an
opportunity for Nigerian companies, creating technology-based solutions for the next generation
African market, to partner with CCHub and Union Bank for rapid growth.
Union Bank’s commitment to SMEs has earned it the “Best Bank to Support Nigeria’s Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises” award at the 2016 Business Day Annual Banking Awards.
