Felix Mbata, Lagos state
It is my profound honor to introduce Eze Sylvester Oriaku, affectionately known as Ezendigbo, a stalwart of community development from Coker Aguda Local Community Development Area (LCDA). A seasoned banker who rose through the ranks of First Bank of Nigeria to managerial heights, Eze Oriaku has now retired with a mission—not to rest—but to ignite economic resurgence across the South‑East.
In pursuit of this dream, he founded the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Multi‑purpose Cooperative, an initiative that is rapidly evolving into a full‑fledged Micro‑Finance Bank. Today, he stands before us as the Chairman of Ohanaeze Multi‑Purpose Bank, a pioneering institution poised to become the new ACB (African Continental Bank) for Ndigbo—a bank that will finance, mentor, and empower the next generation of South‑East entrepreneurs.
Interview: Thank you, Eze Oriaku, for that inspiring introduction. Let’s dive right in. You mentioned the Ohanaeze Multi‑Purpose Bank is already registered and operational. Could you share the exact office address for our audience?
Eze Oriaku: Absolutely. Our headquarters is located at 1B, Coker Road, Orile Iganmu, I66, Okota Road by Celebustop, Lagos. We’ve set up a fully functional branch to serve our members and partners.
Interviewer: Your vision includes providing loans to Ndigbo members. What are the core conditions a prospective borrower must meet?
Eze Oriaku: First and foremost, the applicant must be a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For collateral, we offer flexible options—for instance, we can rent a shop in the name of Ohanaeze Cooperative Bank and let the borrower operate it. The shop itself becomes the security. We also consider other assets on a case‑by‑case basis, keeping the process simple and accessible.
Interviewer: You talked about “loan syndication.” Could you explain how that works and its benefit to the community?
Eze Oriaku: Loan syndication is a partnership where a small bank (like ours) collaborates with larger banks to fund a project that exceeds our individual capacity. This way, a big investment—say, a manufacturing plant—can be financed collectively.
The benefit? It spreads risk, unlocks huge capital, and enables Ndigbo entrepreneurs to undertake ventures they’d otherwise never qualify for.
Interviewer: How do you see Ohanaeze Multi‑Purpose Bank fitting into the broader summit theme “Remaking South East as Economic Powerhouse”?
Eze Oriaku: The summit is a catalyst. Our bank is the financial engine behind that vision. By providing affordable credit, mentorship, and digital banking solutions, we empower local businesses, generate employment, and retain wealth within the region. We’re also partnering with associations like Ndigboamaka Progressive Market Association to align our programs with the summit’s goals.
Interviewer: Could you elaborate on the digital transformation strategy you mentioned?
Eze Oriaku: Certainly. This will allow members in even the most rural areas to open accounts, apply for loans, and make transfers without stepping into a branch. Coupled with AI‑driven credit scoring, we’ll fast‑track loan approvals while maintaining low default rates.
Interviewer: What specific sectors or industries are you prioritizing for financing?
Eze Oriaku: We’re focusing on agro‑processing, small‑scale manufacturing, tech startups, and renewable energy. These sectors have high job multipliers and align with Nigeria’s import‑substitution agenda, thus delivering maximum impact on the South‑East economy.
Interviewer: What role does capacity building play in your model?
Eze Oriaku: Capacity building is non‑negotiable. We run quarterly workshops on financial literacy, business management, and digital skills. Our “Entrepreneur‑in‑Residence” program pairs emerging business owners with seasoned mentors—many of whom are retired bankers like myself. Knowledge transfer is the seed for sustainable growth.
Interviewer: How can stakeholders—both local and international—partner with you?
Eze Oriaku: We welcome equity participation, loan syndications, technical assistance, and grant funding. For corporates, CSR alignment with our initiatives (e.g., youth training) offers impactful ESG outcomes. Interested parties can reach us. Tel: 08149797801.
Interviewer: Lastly, how would you summarize today’s event in a few words?
Eze Oriaku: A wonderful convergence of ideas, legacy, and future‑forward action. Just as the founders of ACB once did, we are gathering elites, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to lay a new foundation for the South‑East. The spirit of our ancestors is resurfacing—this time, through finance, technology, and collective enterprise.
Conclusively: Eze Sylvester Oriaku emphasized the inclusive scope of his vision:
“Our vision is not limited to the South East alone; it embraces every Ohanaeze member who needs support.”
He reiterated this during the South East Business and Investment Summit, 2 edition, themed: Remarking South East as Economic Powerhouse, Lagos Regional Roadshow / Town Hall meeting, hosted by Ndigboamaka Progressive Market Association at Festival Hotel Conference Centre, and SPA Festac Lagos, , stressing that Ohanaeze Multi‑Purpose Bank will extend its services—affordable loans, capacity‑building workshops, digital banking, and syndicated financing—to all Ohanaeze affiliates across Nigeria. Ensuring that wherever an Ohanaeze member resides, they can benefit from the bank’s offerings.
Eze Oriaku: Thank you. Together, we shall make the South‑East—and indeed every Ohanaeze home—an economic powerhouse.