The disbursement of the loan was the second phase of the
Sterling Bank Tourism Development Fund Initiative, a product planted by
Sterling bank which and facilitated by the office of the Senior Special
Assistant to the Governor of Ekiti State on Tourism Development, Ambassador
Wale Ojo-Lanre to make fund available to tourism practitioners to boost their
trade and expand their business.
The accounts of the 202 tourism entrepreneurs beneficiaries
of the low-interest facility were credited in Ado Ekiti the state capital in on
Wednesday 19 May 2021.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony held at the Conference
Hall of Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs the state commissioner for Arts,
Culture and Tourism, Prof Rasaki Ojo-Bakare, who was the special guest said
Governor Kayode Fayemi was keenly interested in boosting the economic
activities of all stakeholders within the ambit of arts, culture tourism,
hence, seeking a way of opening doors of financial platforms where the
practitioners can leverage on low interest facilities.
Ojo-Bakare applauded Sterling Bank for its interest in the
development of arts, culture and tourism sector and called on the beneficiaries
to make judicious use of the loan adding that it would not only shore up the
economy of the state but put them in a firmer financial stead to expand their
businesses.
He commended the Ojo-Lanre for his innovative tendencies at
driving the tourism sector in the state not only for visibility but economic
viability while lauding the synergy between the Office of the SSA Tourism
Development, Bureau of Employment, Labour and Productivity being led by Mr
Lanre Ogunjobi and the special assistant to the governor on Informal Sector, Mr
Oroya Aladeloye on this scheme.
Sterling Bank's divisional head of retail banking and
customer banking, Mr Shina Atilola, pointed out that the soft loan scheme to
tourism entrepreneurs is strategically conceived by the managing director of
Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, to provide a platform where the low cadre
tourism entrepreneurs can access fund of low interest.
He said that it was the mission of Sterling Bank not only to
provide the loan for the beneficiaries but also network their services, craft
items and provide to buyers and patrons
Atilola pointed out that Sterling Bank is out to empower and
enhance the business and economic endeavours of tourism practitioners and
stakeholder noting that the sector encompasses almost everything that a typical
traveller will need in a strange land.
He commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for being pro-poor and
pro - masses in his drive at placing the economic base of Ekiti on a
sustainable pedestal by aligning it with low cadre entrepreneurs and for
putting proactive and positive-minded persons attending the tourism sector.
Ojo-Lanre commended the Sterling Bank team especially Mrs
Abiola Adelana , Sterling Bank Tourism Desk for her goal-getting strides at
pushing the tourism vision of the bank efficiently to Ekiti State , lauded Mr
Gbenga Adegoke, Divisional Head, Product Proposition, and Ado Ekiti Sterling
bank Staff being led by Mr Lekan Afuye for the success of the first phase
disbursement to 90 beneficiaries and the commencement of the empowerment of
second batch for 202 beneficiaries under Sterling Bank Tourism Fund Development
Imitative in Ekiti State.