The Bank of Industry (BOI) has said driving the country’s industrial sector by supporting micro, small, medium and large enterprises to achieve sustained growth that generates considerable multiplier effects such as industrialization, job creation, and poverty alleviation for the economy remains topmost in its commitment.
It disclosed that between 2015 and June 2022, the bank provided funding of over $3.1bn (₦1.36 trillion) to over 4.3 million enterprises in Nigeria through direct and indirect interventions; resulting in the creation of an estimated 9.6 million jobs.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Olukayode Pitan spoke at the backdrop of receiving four international awards recently in recognition of the bank’s outstanding developmental impact, commitment to sustainable banking principles and innovative capital raising activities.
Among the award BOI received include the ‘Best Development Bank- Africa 2022’ award at the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards; ‘Most Sustainable Bank 2022, Nigeria’ at the World Finance Banking Awards; ‘Best SME Partner Bank of the Year’ and ‘CEO of the Year’ at The European Magazine Global Banking and Finance Awards.
The top honours come on the back of BOI’s impressive capital raising streak which has resulted in a total of $5 billion raised in the last 5 years, under Pitan’s leadership.
Pitan’s achievements were also recognized by The European Magazine Global Banking and Finance Awards with the ‘Banking CEO of the Year’, which he won for the second time (first received in 2019).
He said “our dedication to building a resilient organization that can respond to the needs of our customers and operating challenges is unwavering. In the past 5 years, we have raised over $5billion from the International Debt Market towards enhancing our capital base to support our customers and the real sector in Nigeria.