Friday,November 19, 2021 / 10:07 AM / Ecobank / Header ImageCredit: Ecobank 

TheManaging Director/Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan hasreiterated the bank's commitment to raise future Africa multinationals byassisting young entrepreneurs with funding, access to market across Africa,training, and other resources.  Speaking at an event tagged: "Brunch With Entrepreneurs", aninteractive session organized by the bank for budding entrepreneurs thatpitched their business ideas on the TV reality show, Lions' Den Season oneprogram, Akinwuntan said the forum is for top executives of the bank andpartners to interact with the young entrepreneurs on the availableopportunities in the bank to explore, for them to realize their potentials.

Accordingto him, "This interaction is a continuation of our journey of building PanAfrican multinationals by hosting these young entrepreneurs that have debutedon Lions' Den program, the reality show being produced by our partner, Ultimaproductions. Lion' Den is a program that exposes promising entrepreneurs topotential investors who are called Lions. The Lions are businessmen and womenwho have pedigree, who know what it takes to make success of business. They arebringing their wealth of experience and capital to the stage to assist peoplewith brilliant and creative ideas. I mean young Nigerians, females, and males,willing to take up the challenge of future Pan African entrepreneurs."

Hedisclosed that the bank is offering its platform, Pan African network, digitalofferings, and all necessary support to make the young entrepreneurs achievetheir dream. "Ecobank Nigeria is an affiliate of Ecobank TransnationalIncorporated (ETI). We are present in 35 countries in Africa and globalpresence in Dubai, London, Paris, and Beijing. We provide unique opportunities and platform to accessfinance, access to market across Africa, skills, and resources. This is for allthe young entrepreneurs that presented business ideas at the reality show,whether the Lion's invested in their business or not. The fact that they havereached the level to pitch for equity or venture capital, they are qualified asentrepreneurs in the making. We will support them with our various digitalpayments and collections such as Omnilite; SME academy, appropriate financialpackage, and mentorship to enable them achieve their dreams and become worldleaders.

Advisingthe young entrepreneurs on how to pitch and get investor, one of the Lions, DanNgerem, Chairman, Hensen Group, advised them to maintain the originality oftheir business idea and remain focused in their presentation. "The key wordhere is to be original. Ensure you think through your project from conception,stick with the originality. Do not cannibalize your idea. Don't oversellyourself or the project to impress, remain focused, sharpen your presentationskill, do not be scared while presenting and take notes." He thanked Ecobank foroffering its platform for the budding entrepreneurs to explore and achievetheir dream.

ChiefExecutive Officer, Ultima Studio, Femi Ayeni applauded Ecobank' decision toalso assist the young entrepreneurs whose business idea could not get investorsin the reality program. He explained that the partnership with Ecobank on theproject is borne out of passion to assist young entrepreneurs to achieve theirdream.

Crosssections of the young entrepreneurs were full of praises for Ecobank andpartners for given them platform to realize their dream. According to IdorenyinAkpabio, Founder/Creative Director, Aideeology, a company that conceptualize and create interactive andintellectually stimulating tabletop games for the education and recreation ofkids, teens and even adults, the meeting with Ecobank management wasinsightful, stressing that the engagement has added a lot more value to him andto his digital rolodex. "We had audience with the Ecobank MD and his amazingteam.  We had insightful discussions on Entrepreneurship Development,Start-up Funding, FinTech, the Pan-African Market etc. He took time to explainEcobank's vision and plans for Entrepreneurs, and candidly answered allquestions we posed to him. It was worthwhile chatting and networking with thesefinancial heavyweights. This has added a lot more value to me and to my digitalrolodex. Behold, a pregnant future beckon." He stated .

ObukovwoEtudoh, Chief Executive Officer, ClassiClicks Limited, a firm that managesPrimary and Secondary Schools in using Games like Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly,Coding, said her appearance on the reality show is a dream come through. Shesaid though her business was not selected, she is optimistic that she couldstill achieve her goals through Ecobank.

Lion'sDen is a Reality show produced by Ultima Studios and sponsored by Ecobank. Itprovides budding entrepreneurs investment opportunities through successfulpitches. The reality show airs every Sunday at 7pm onAfricaMagic Family, Channels 154 on DSTV and GOTV Channel 2; with repeatbroadcasts on Wednesdays at 3pm and on Fridays at 5pm on Africa Magic Urban,DSTV Channel 153.

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