Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has challenged financial institutions operating in the state to make their services more liberal for the people of the state to benefit.
Governor Dickson, who spoke while commissioning a new branch of the Sterling Bank, Plc in Yenagoa, decried a situation where some banks only show interest in the collection of deposits from their customers without doing anything to better their financial standing.
Describing Bayelsa as Nigeria’s best kept secret, he reiterated his administration’s determination to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
While thanking the management of Sterling Bank for heeding to his earlier call, Governor Dickson urged other financial and private institutions to emulate the bank in building befitting corporate offices to enhance the development of the state.
Expressing confidence in the partnership existing between the state government and the Sterling Bank PLC, he however, asked the bank to work out modalities that would create wealth and employment opportunities for Bayelsans.
According to the Governor, “I am confident that by opening this branch, more of our people will have access to the opportunities and services that your bank provides.
“I’m keenly monitoring and will like to have a report in no distant time that business people in this state and those involved in the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will continue to benefit from your facilities.
“And I dare say I challenge you to prove in no distant time that you are not like other banks that come to Bayelsa only to collect deposits. I want to see that you are also in the business of giving facilities (loans) and encourage the development of indigenous businesses in Bayelsa State.
“I’ve no doubt that, as you continue to do so, we, your partners in government will continue to create the enabling environment as we have done to encourage you and all other well meaning partners.”
Earlier in a welcome address, the Managing Director of Sterling Bank represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Olanrewaju Adesanya lauded the deliberate steps taken by the Dickson-led administration in providing a congenial environment for private business operations.
The Managing Director, who indicated the bank’s readiness to closely partner with the state government, added that the new branch which is one of the best in the country, was put in place in obedience to an earlier call by the Governor.
His words, “Your Excellency, we’ve done this because of your insistence that the bank should have a befitting structure here for your government to do business with us. We came here and you’ve created an enabling environment for us to do business. And that is why we have our model branch. You can only see this type of branch in Lagos. We don’t even have it in Port Harcourt, but we have it in Yenagoa today.”
