J9 Collective’s 4th anniversary lecture focuses on SMEs

Founder of Leap Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli, has been named as the keynote speaker of January 9 Collective’s fourth anniversary lecture scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Nwuneli, who is co-founder of AACE Food Processing and Distribution, an indigenous agro processing company, will be speaking on the theme: “SMEs the engine room of the economy; who’s talking to them?”

According to Wole Olagundoye, chairman, anniversary committee, “Every year, we celebrate our anniversary with various activities, the high point of which is our annual lecture during which we debate and proffer solutions to burning topical issues affecting our nation. This year, rebuilding our economy is one of the Federal Government’s priorities hence we are focusing on SMEs, being the major driver of true economic growth,”

He said apart from Nwuneli, Kunle Sonola, executive director, Union Bank, would deliver a speech as special guest, while Bunmi Lawson, managing director, Accion Microfinance bank, Henry Akwara, director, Mansard Insurance, Akin Oyebode, head, SMEs Stanbic IBTC Bank, Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, president, FADAN, will act as panellists. The event would be moderated by Fanen Acho, founder/CEO Medleypark Group

According to Michael Effiong, J9 Collective’s publicity secretary, the group believes that if the SME sector is galvanised in terms of favourable funding, friendly tax regimes and other support services, it will not only jump start our economy but move Nigeria closer to its dream of being an economic powerhouse.