By JONAH NWOKPOKU
Diamond Bank Plc has entered into partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to drive efficiency in export services through improved export related financial process and service delivery.

The Bank in partnership with NEPC, in a two-day training programme focusing on managing effective export desk in banks, stated that effective and efficient export service delivery is one of the surest ways the financial services sub-sector could help stimulate economic activity in the country, mitigate the financial challenges affecting export business in Nigeria and halt the sliding value of the naira.

The training programme was aimed at up-scaling the skills of the bank’s staff on the export desk and promoting efficient export service delivery in the bank.

Benefiting staff were selected from its branch network across all the geopolitical zones in the country,

According to Executive Director of Diamond Bank, Oladele Akinyemi, the involvement of the Bank in the training is to promote a stress-free and prompt transaction processes in export trade for the growth of the economy.

He said: “It is imperative to encourage a synergy between government agencies and financial institutions to aid smooth flow of business in the exportation of Made-in-Nigeria goods. Diamond Bank as a financial institution seeks to be a leader in export trade by putting in place a system that is beyond ordinary banking for export customers. Our desire is to be on ground to offer professional advice that would add value to our customers in their business transactions. Therefore, we are training our staff members to think and act as exporters as well”.

The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo who was represented by Olajide Ibrahim, Executive Director, NEPC, applauded the collaboration between the agency and Diamond Bank to enhance capacity building for personnel that are assigned to manage export desks.

“The NEPC has viewed the aspect of Export Desks-cum-finance as very vital to non-oil export promotion, hence the need for a deliberate intervention plan. This training and capacity building workshop will facilitate quick access to finance by the Nigerian exporters,” he stated.