REGISTER FOR MARKET ACCESS LAGOS & ABUJA, HOSTED BY EDC.

The event is a platform that brings together Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) and large companies to network, start relationships and create opportunities to "BUY" the goods and services of the SGBs. The networking event bridges the gap and helps facilitate market access to Small and Growing Businesses thereby promoting SME growth in Nigeria.

The 2015 Market Access kicked off in Port Harcourt on the 30th of April 2015 with the theme-

"Enhancing SME growth through Access to Market."

Join the train now as it moves to Abuja and Lagos respectively.

Abuja

Date: Thursday, 15th of October 2015

Time: 9.30am – 1pm

Venue: Barcelona Hotel, 20 Blantyre Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Lagos

Date: Thursday, 5th of November , 2015

Time: 9.30am – 1pm

Venue: Havilah House of Events, 6 Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Street, Oniru Estate, VI

"Market Access Nigeria was launched in May 2012 by the former Hon Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga. The Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (ETISALAT) in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) organizes the event".

Participation is free but subject to early confirmation.

To register, kindly send the following details to marketaccess@pau.edu.ng or call 08174583175

Full Name, Company name, Product/Service , email address and Phone number.

Abuja- Registration closes 10th of October 2015

Lagos – Registration closes 31st of October 2015

POWER-UP YOUR BUSINESS WITH HIRE PURCHASE OPTION by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Hire purchase (HP) is a type of asset finance that allows firms or individuals to possess and control an asset during an agreed term, while paying rent or installments covering depreciation of the asset, and interest to cover capital cost.

Assets are defined as anything of monetary value that is owned by a firm or an individual.

HP is a financing solution suitable for businesses wishing to purchase assets without paying the full value immediately. The customer pays an initial deposit, with the remainder of the balance and interest paid over a period of time. On completion, ownership of the asset transfers to the customer.

The use of HP or leasing is particularly common in industries where expensive machinery is required, such as construction, manufacturing, plant hire, printing, road freight, transport, engineering and professional services but can be used in Nigeria to alleviate, extensively, the challenges faced by small and medium scale businesses.

HOUSING FOR ALL, TAKE THE National Housing Fund ADVANTAGE By Don Abiodun Odedeyi

Averagely, Nigerians have this mindset that nothing is working. This mirage position has taken our eyes away from so many working projects, agencies, and opportunities for many years. It is disheartening to see that these opportunities are the same we are crying for as if we are the most backward nation where there is no infrastructure.

From the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that gives affordable healthcare, to microfinancing, pension, FADAMA, Housing fund (endless list), Nigerians, it seems prefer the circle of fund wastage in the name of ‘new agency creation’ than maintaining established ones.

When Business Today on Radio 1, 103.5fm producer, Mr Adeyemi contacted me to appear on his programme, I knew it was another opportunity to open your eyes to another overlooked ‘working’ project. But why should this be, how did we come about abandoning institutions setup by our founding fathers?

Wednesday morning, Mr Adeyemi called to inform me that the topic was National Housing Fund. Knowing my prowess in the financial sector especially in the area of project funding, I understood why he contacted me.

Oil Price Crash: Mass sacking looms in Private, Public sectors

Oil price crash: Mass sacking looms in private, public sectors

As crude oil price continues its descent, and the economy falters, strong indications have emerged that workers in both private and public sectors are faced with mass retrenchment.

Stakeholders in both sectors, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, painted a gloomy picture of the economy and the prospects of workers in the new year. They based their projections on recent happenings in the Nigerian and global economies. Oil prices have been in steep decline since June 2014 as a result of
slow demand growth and the United States' oil boom, which has increased supply.

The global oil benchmark, Brent, against which Nigerian oil is priced, on Tuesday, tumbled below $58 per barrel, hitting its lowest levels since May 2009.

PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that at least 70,000 civil servants in 30 ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government had yet to receive up to three months salaries.