By Moses Nosike

In order to promote the operation of startups nationwide, HQ, a subsidiary of International Workplace Group has joined forces with The Alternative Bank to make office spaces accessible for startups nationwide to leverage on for successful operation. This step would encourage and increase number of startups in the country for self-reliant and for economic growth.

At the opening of one of the office spaces in Lekki, Lagos, the Country Manager, IWG, Ayo Akinmade said, “through the collaboration with The Alternative Bank, HQ will be opening over 10 new office spaces across the country before the end of 2026”.

“This office spaces will be equipped with the necessary amenities needed for successful business operations. There will be power, water, internet, and a good business environment. And we believe that as each of these businesses starts to grow or expand, they will engage people, another way of creating jobs in the society”.

Akinmade said, “as their businesses expand, they will pay taxes, and those taxes will help more with infrastructure. So, aside from helping ourselves, we think we’re going to help the country to grow the database, to grow the GDP, to bring more people out of unemployment”.

He explained that HQ decided to partner with The Alternative Bank because the two firms have a shared vision of empowering startups. “We think that if we create an ecosystem where somebody has an office, and they have banking services directly below or beside it, it solves a lot of their banking requirements for the company and for the individuals working in the company, who now have a ready bank at their doorstep. So, that’s the vision behind this collaboration”.

In the same vein, the Director, Products, Digital and Innovation, The Alternative Bank, Mohammed Yunusa, said that the opening of the office was to create an ecosystem that brings people together and gives them access to finance.

“Banking is about bringing people together, solving problems and creating solutions. IWG, Regus and HQ give us an opportunity to create a community. So, in the heart of the community, problems are coming together that we can solve.

“So, people coming together gives us an opportunity to bank them and also support their businesses. Because the setup is for small businesses, big businesses, and enterprises. And in the heart of all these people, what they need is finance”.