In a significant move to bolster Nigeria's economic diversification efforts, Sterling Bank has entered a strategic partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). The collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 4 December 2025, with the core objective of certifying graduates from the bank's recently launched Non-Oil Export Academy.
Building a Foundation for Global Competitiveness
This partnership is a direct extension of Sterling Bank's commitment to reducing Nigeria's heavy reliance on oil revenues by empowering non-oil exporters. The initiative follows a series of nationwide training sessions held in Lagos, Ondo, and Kano states, which culminated in a grand finale event themed 'Excel in Non-Oil Export'. The newly established Academy is designed to position Nigerian entrepreneurs for success on the international stage.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, outlined the bank's ambitious vision. He stated that the goal transcends basic export education, aiming instead to cultivate a community of highly competitive exporters.
"We are not just training people to understand how to export; we want to train them to be competitive exporters of non-oil products," Suleiman affirmed. "Our North Star is to reach a point where hundreds of people have completed this programme and are ready to compete on a global scale."
Expertise Meets Practical Execution
The Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, Dr. Nneka Okekearu, expressed strong enthusiasm for the collaboration. Leveraging EDC's twenty-three years of experience in building entrepreneurial competence, she highlighted the critical need for such an initiative.
"The export market has been neglected for too long," Dr. Okekearu noted. "With the right structure, standards, and mindset in place, entrepreneurs passing through this programme will help create not only a better Nigeria but more sustainable communities." She also indicated her anticipation for the real-world case studies that will emerge from the programme's participants.
Structured Growth and Long-Term Impact
The operational plan for the Academy is structured and clear. It is scheduled to run four cohorts within the year, commencing in 2026. This systematic approach ensures focused training and mentorship for each batch of participants.
The initiative's impact is designed to be twofold:
- Sectoral Growth: Directly strengthening Nigeria's non-oil export sector by equipping entrepreneurs with practical, internationally relevant tools.
- Human Capital Development: Reinforcing Sterling Bank's commitment to fostering skilled professionals who can positively shape the broader national economy.
By combining Sterling Bank's financial and sectoral expertise with the academic and entrepreneurial rigor of PAU's EDC, this partnership is laying a concrete foundation. It aims to produce a new generation of Nigerian exporters who are not only knowledgeable but also certified, confident, and well-networked to scale their businesses and enhance Nigeria's global trade footprint.
