Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan has restated the Bank’s commitment to partner University of Lagos because he believes in their visions.
Akinwuntan who spoke at UNILAG Colloquium in Lagos said: “As a Bank, we set out to support you because we believe in your vision and are prepared to assist you achieve it.”
Akinwuntan assured that Ecobank will partner the University of Lagos on its planned Economic Summit and other initiatives that would widen the students’ entrepreneurial scope.
Akinwuntan reiterated that Ecobank as a Group is committed to contributing to the economic development and financial integration of Africa, noting that it offers a natural advantage with its unmatched pan-African banking competencies, built up over the last 25 years.
He said: “We are marshalling our impressively broad presence, our proficiency and our performance to support Africa’s development.
“We will continue to play a pivotal role as a pioneer in financial integration and inclusive banking in Arica.
“We operate in 36 countries in Africa with representative offices in Paris, Beijing, Dubai, Johannesburg and London.
“We have made many pioneering achievements, many ‘firsts’ across various products and platforms in the Nigeria.”
Akinwuntan, who was the Chairman of the event, further advised the students to have set out goals and map out steps to actualizing them.
“As the future leaders of tomorrow, I challenge you to be innovative, resilient, be dedicated to your goals.
“You must have self-belief, the right mindset and be ready to dare to achieve the right results.”
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, commended Ecobank for its consistent support for the promotion of entrepreneurship among students and youths across the country.
The Vice Chancellor, who spoke when he received the Ecobank Management in his office ahead of the Investment Society, Unilag Colloquium, said the University will collaborate with the Bank on such initiatives.
Ogundipe said partnership between operators in the financial sector and the academia in raising budding entrepreneurs will bring the much-needed development of the nation’s economy.
In particular, Ogundipe lauded Ecobank for partnering with The Investment Society – Unilag, an association set up by some undergraduate students of the school to share and expand their knowledge of finance and consulting towards entrepreneurship.
He noted that such support was in tandem with the vision of the academia to raise self-reliant graduates rather than job seekers.
He announced that a University of Lagos Economic Summit has also been planned in this direction.
He said: “We are glad to have you and your team here.
“Your financial support and physical presence in this Colloquium are clear indications that you are interested in building young entrepreneurs, which also aligns with our vision as a university.
“Ecobank has been our good partner.
“We appreciate your support on some of our various programmes over the years.
“This is also an opportunity to seek your partnership for our up-coming Economic Summit and NUGA games.
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“We seek stronger ties in this direction of raising young entrepreneurs.”
Ogundipe, who reeled out some achievements of the institution, stated that only recently two of its lecturers won a combined sum of £1.2 million (over N485 million) as research grant for the development of integrated solutions that would maximise employment opportunities and enhance the future of work in Africa.
President, the Investment Society – Unilag, Timileyin Idowu, said the Colloquium was organized to provide a holistic platform for the smooth exchange of ideas amongst established and widely renowned professionals who have vast knowledge and experience in the investment and finance industry and the students.
