OneWallet, a new Microfinance Bank (MfB), was unveiled in Aba on Tuesday by its Management Board, led by the Chairman, Dr Darl Uzu, an Abia-born Real Estate Businessman.
Uzu, speaking during the inauguration of the MfB, said that the vision was born in 2024, aiming to build a digital platform to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), merchants, traders and artisans in Abia.
“We want to expand the inclusion of small businesses in digital financial services thereby granting them ease of making and receiving payments on affordable digital devices, hence the UnionBell Smart Phones and POS terminals.
“We want to help Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to access financial support / loans easily to grow their businesses.
“We want to help businesses to build history and credibility they require for future growth and expansion,” he said.
Uzu said that OneWallet was not created as just a payment application but as a business support platform focusing on the real needs of SMEs.
He said the pilot project was beginning in Ariaria International Market because the market was Nigeria’s strongest symbol of enterprise, having manufacturing, trading, distribution, apprenticeship and business incubation sectors.
He said the bank came to support Ariaria Market traders with tools that would help them achieve more by organising and preparing for better opportunities.
The Bank Manager of OneWallet, Dr David Nwosu, said the bank would lead other microfinance banks through its digital inclusion plans and products to improve the operations of SMEs.
He said that SMEs should not be ignored in Nigeria because they provided jobs for no fewer than 80 million Nigerians.
He said that OneWallet was making a brand promise of meeting the needs of its customers seamlessly and helping them improve their businesses.
In his goodwill message, Dr Ernest Chieke, Abia Sales and Trade Development Manager, MTN Nigeria, said his organisation was proud to partner OneWallet’s innovative financial solutions for Aba businesses.
He said the introduction of the products of OneWallet would open new opportunities for business owners who worked hard daily to improve their income and lives.
According to him, MTN Nigeria’s partnership with OneWallet is to bring financial inclusion and community empowerment to Abia stressing that both companies are creating solutions and financial access closer to the people.
Dr Karl Akwarandu , the Zonal Head and Business Development Team Lead of Zenith Bank, praised the vision of OneWallet MfB, and Uzu, whom he said was a visionary leader and trailblazer.
He said the MfB would bring unique products to Aba people and promised that Zenith Bank would support the MfB to realise its ambitious goal of improving MfB business and becoming number one in Nigeria.
A Chinese partner of the bank, Mr Weidang Wang, congratulated the management of the bank for its vision to improve the operations of MfBs using OneWallet MfB.
He expressed faith in the capacity of the new bank to stand strong, grow steadily and to perform exceptionally well.
He presented the bank with a sculpted charging bull, which he said stood for strength, success and progress, his wishes for the bank.
