Diamond Bank focuses CSR initiative on artisans financial literacy

Diamond Bank, known for its interest in promoting ideas and businesses, has commenced financial literacy training for potential entrepreneurs who are currently undergoing various skill acquisitions at Lagos Skill Acquisition Centres.

The 23-year-old bank, which inaugurated Bright Ideas Campaign in 2006 aimed at bringing life to creative business ideas, is empowering the vocation students at the centres with skills on how to start up their businesses, access finance, create business plans, and keep records and source for customers.

Executed under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the bank which is also sponsoring Building Enterpreneurs Today (BET) in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Service (EDS) of the Pan-African University, a programme aimed at generating interest in entrepreneurship, allows its staff on voluntary basis to visit the Skill Acquisition centres for the lectures.

“As a bank we know that an entrepreneur cannot start a business without finance and any entrepreneur has to understand financing. So it was obvious that we have to engage in finance training for the students on how to start business, source finance, get customers”, Ayona Trimnell,  head of corporate communications of Diamond Bank told BusinessDay during the training at Mushin center last week.

She said in the last week about 50 staff members of Diamond Bank had gone to  four centres located in Surulere, Anthony Village, Lagos Island and Mushin for the training. “Initially we thought they would not be enthusiastic but the feedback has been amasing and even the Diamond Bank staff have contributed much even from their pocket to offer the training”.

Trimnell said the bank understands that one of the critical ways forward for Nigeria is through micro businesses. “All the companies cannot employ everybody and given our population, it is important to encourage people to start something on their own and sustain it”.

Under its CSR initiative, Trimnell said the bank is  interested in capacity development, women and wealth and youth development explaining that “ in our CSR initiative, we always try to do something that is impactfull and meaningful”.

Also speaking at the training, Uzoma Dozie, Diamond Bank Executive Direcror said the bank is “investing in its business and our business is people. This initiative is in collaboration with Lagos State where our staffs are helping others on how to run a successful business. It is a volunteer scheme from Diamond Bank”, he explained.

Some of the beneficiaries of the CSR initiative said the training has exposed them to things they never knew in business. Yetunde Dankano who is studying fashion designing said “initially nobody has told me how to access finance but Diamond Bank is opening our knowledge on this area. I have learnt how to plan my business and market plans and get customers”.

Nwogu Leticia, a computer student at the center said I have learnt how to  keep records and how to manage capital and promote my business through Diamond Bank training. Atiba Mayowo, also a  Comuter  student said “through Diamond Bank training I have been able to understand how to access finance, either short term or long term loan, build partnership, create customers and promote the business”

The Mushin Acquisition center was opened in 2010 to train those who are interested  in any craft. There are 18 centers in Lagos State. The idea is to give them hope in life and a direction. At the centres students could learn photography, fashion, catering, textile, welding, aluminium and fabrication, shore making, vulcanizing, computer, refrigerating, tiling, adult literary. It is free.