Heritage Bank Plc has arranged N5 billion as support funds
to drive and stimulate sustainable growth in the Nigeria’s creative and
entertainment industry.
The entertainment and creative sector is about to receive a
huge boost, as Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service provider
set aside N5billion as a support funds to drive the industry and stimulate
sustainable growth to the nation’s economy.
Meanwhile, Heritage Bank doled out the sum of N1million to
Damilola Adeyemi, a winner of an online giveaway competition to celebrate the
bank’s product, Ynspyre ambassador, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, better known by
his stage name D’banj, which heralds launching of the Ynspyre Account set aside
for talented young Nigerians in the different spectrum of the creative and
entertainment industry.
MD/CEO of the bank, Ifie Sekibo who affirmed Heritage Bank’s
commitment to the development and growth of the nation’s creative sector,
described the sector as one of the leeways to solving the unemployment
occasioned by the prevailing adverse macro-economic environment.
Sekibo, during the presentation of the N1million cheque,
said the development and growth of the entertainment industry will get as many
people as possible involved as manufacturing, banking and other sectors cannot
do it alone.
The bank, in statement, yesterday, signed by the Divisional
Head, Corporate Communications of the bank, Fela Ibidapo, assured;
“The entertainment is going to take a new leaf of life, with
the Ynspyre platform; we are hoping to start with this and obviously it will
grow to another level. You will see greater things in a couple of months.”
Sekibo said the music industry has done so much for Nigeria
in terms of employment and foreign exchange earnings and if more resources
could be put into it, the country would be better for it.
Besides supporting individual artistes in the industry, the
bank has also partnered with some organisers to perform and produce some
entertainment shows.
In a similar manner, whilst confirming the N5billion set
aside for the creative sector and commending Heritage Bank for its numerous
bold steps in supporting the industry, D’banji stated;
“The reason for setting up this fund is for creative people
like me, you (Adeyemi) and the other upcoming artists to have access to it.”
“I want to commend Heritage Bank for believing not just in
me but the creative industry. Over the years, Heritage Bank has worked behind
the scene to sponsor and invest in lots of creativity projects.”
Speaking on the modalities of the product, he disclosed that the Ynspyre Account is the perfect account, specifically created to accommodate and support creative ideas in the industry, which do not need collateral.
“Just open your Ynspyre account, get your proposal ready on
what you intend doing in the creative industry; be it music, fashion,
lifestyle, IT and others because they have created categories for each and
every one of us to enable us assess funds, supports, loans and grants at single
digit interest rates,” he explained.
The winner, Adeyemi who disclosed the creative industry had
never gotten such spotlight before, said that he was inspired by the cash
reward, as the Ynspyre Account product serves as boost to the creative
industry.
“Prior to now, artist struggle to get to the level they find
themselves either through their personal funds, manager or parents’ funds.
Finally, it is actually time for us to shine and the spotlight is on us.”
“Big thank you to Heritage Bank for creating this platform,
for creating this opportunity, I am so excited. It couldn’t have come at a
perfect timing; N1million during Covid-19, it only can be better. I want to
thank Heritage Bank for believing in D’Banj and the creative industry, for
counting us worthy to invest in us,” he stated.