Sterling Bank Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University to certify graduates of its Non-Oil Export Academy.
The agreement follows the launch of the Sterling Bank Non-Oil Export Academy, created to prepare Nigerian exporters for global markets.”
The launch came after a series of training sessions held in Lagos, Ondo and Kano, ending with a programme themed “Excel in Non-Oil Export.
The initiative is designed to provide exporters with practical knowledge to operate in international markets and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on oil revenue.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, Sterling Bank managing director and CEO Abubakar Suleiman said the bank aims to build an ecosystem where exporters are informed and equipped to support national economic goals.
“We are not just training people to understand how to export; we want to train them to be competitive exporters of non-oil products,” he said.
“Our goal is to build a community of knowledgeable, certified and confident exporters who can collaborate to solve challenges beyond their immediate capacity. 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.”
Director of the Enterprise Development Centre, Nneka Okekearu, said the centre looked forward to the collaboration after many years of working with entrepreneurs.
She noted that the export market had not received enough attention.
“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 said.
The academy will run four cohorts annually beginning in 2026.
Sterling Bank and the Enterprise Development Centre said the partnership will support the development of skilled exporters with certification, networks and industry knowledge.
Sterling Bank Limited is a national commercial bank and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group.
It provides retail, commercial and corporate banking services and operates under its HEART strategy, which focuses on health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation.
