Stanbic IBTC maintains support for Nigerian youth; holds fourth edition of Youth Leadership Summit

Charles Abuede

Nigeria’s top lender, Stanbic IBTC holding Plc has maintained its support to continue collaborating with the teeming youthful population to chart ways to harness potentials and accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth. Dr Demola Sogunle, the managing director and chief executive officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc held this during the fourth edition of the Young Leadership Series organized by the bank in Lagos.

At the event, the CEO revealed that the bank’s corporate social investment initiatives are hinged on three pillars: Health, Economic Empowerment and Education. The Youth Leadership Series rests on our Economic Empowerment and Education pillars while other youth interventionist initiatives worthy of mention are the university scholarship scheme and Together4ALimb, the bank’s flagship CSI initiative; and stating that about 88 students who gained admission into several tertiary institutions across the country benefitted from the university scholarship scheme.

The bank’s helmsman, while giving opening speech at the event said that priority should be accorded to harness the potentials of youths and also accelerate the county’s growth vision.

“According to statistics, youth make up over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population. Therefore, as a nation, we should accord priority to harness their potentials and accelerate the country’s economic growth. The Nigerian youth require support, guidance and empowerment to propel them to the pinnacle of their various fields.

“The innovative projects and tech disruptions championed by the youth in virtually every sector are proof of their ingenuity, skill, brilliance and resourcefulness. At Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, we believe in breaking boundaries, hence our tagline, IT CAN BE, which is hinged upon the premise that everything is possible as long as we are dedicated and put in the requisite effort to make it work,” he said.

The virtually held event which was monitored by business a.m also had in attendance Olumide Soyombo, co-founder of Bluechip technology limited asserted that selling out a business is full of challenges and therefore advice that entrepreneurs hold on to their ‘why’- reason for venturing into businesses in the first instance. Also present at the event were other young Nigerian CEOs who have inspired Nigerian youths in their various fields of endeavours.

Others at the event were Social media influencer, Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, Ifeoluwa Agoro, a blogger and social media influencer, amongst others.