Determined to sustain its stake in the agricultural sector as a leading lender and support its continued growth, Sterling Bank has thrown its weigh behind the second edition of Ogun State Investment Forum. The Forum holding in the state capital, Abeokuta at the June 12 Cultural Centre, between May 21 and 22, 2014 will focus on agriculture and urban development.
The bank has also concluded plans to sponsor the 10th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, scheduled for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the newly refurbished Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre.Vincent Fox, former President of Mexico, Anton Rop, vice president of European Investment Bank and former prime minister of Republic of Slovenia, would deliver the keynote addresses at the Ogun State Investment Forum. Lanre Adesanya, executive director of Sterling Bank, will be part of the plenary session on Financing Agriculture and Housing Development: Investment and Potentials.
The bank explained that it has become necessary to support the forum because of the unique roles played by agriculture and urban development in wealth creation and boosting the economy of the country.
The statement signed by Shina Atilola, the bank’s group head, Strategy & Communications reads in part: “The focus of the forum is agriculture and urban development. These are the catalysts needed for any sustained economic development. We need to support laudable projects such as this because Sterling Bank is also highly involved in the funding of the Agriculture sector. We have devoted a large chunk of our loan portfolio to the sector. We are involved in the Goal Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the federal government which started in 2012 and Sterling Bank is one of the three banks that supported the federal government on the project.We are duly committed to ensuring the success of the transformation agenda by supporting the government’s laudable policies and financing all actors along the value chain in the agricultural sector.”
Speaking on its involvement in the sponsorship of the AMAA Award, which will be hosted by Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, Atilola said the decision of the Bank was based on the need to invest in the entertainment sector to fully exploit the opportunities that abounds in it.
According to him, the bank is pleased to identify with the Awards seen as the most authentic and widely acclaimed film entertainment awards ceremony in Africa, with the assemblage of successful movie producers and other practitioners from across the globe coming together to celebrate excellence in filmmaking annually.Atilola added that the Bank’s involvement in the entertainment industry is in line with the major Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, thrusts of the Bank, which are education, entertainment and the environment.