Nabil Bank successfully concluded Nabil SSE ‘Celebrating Fellowship, Journey of Impacts’ program

KATHMANDU: Nabil Bank Ltd. has successfully concluded Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship (Nabil SSE), ‘Celebrating Fellowship, Journey of Impacts’ program in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The event marked the farewell of the second and third cohorts of the fellowship program and welcoming the participants of the fourth cohort.

The fellowship program, conducted in partnership with the School of Management, Tribhuvan University (SOMTU), aims to address social challenges through entrepreneurship. During a three-year’s journey, participants reflected on their achievements, recognized trainers’ contributions, and discussed the program’s overall impact in the program.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Mahananda Chalise, Dean of the Faculty of Management TU and program chair, emphasized the significance of Nabil SSE in fostering social change.

He noted that the program could be further expanded to support aspiring entrepreneurs in their professional growth.

The Chief Guest of the program Prof. Dr. Keshar Jung Baral, Vice-Chancellor of TU, emphasized the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs and educational institutions in promoting social entrepreneurship.

He said, “Nabil SSE program develops an entrepreneurial mindset in participants, shifting their perspective from job-seeking to job creation.”

Nabil Bank’s Director, Nirvana Chaudhary, highlighted the significance of social entrepreneurship, mentioning that the fellowship program has been inspiring youths to become employers despite various challenges.

He shared that the program represents resilience and hope amidst political instability, economic struggles, and the growing trend of people seeking opportunities abroad. Expressing his satisfaction with the progress of participants’ products, he expressed how each product is potential for expanding to the global market.

Prof. Dr. Khadga KC, Rector, TU cited China’s example, where similar programs were introduced as early as the 1980s. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in fostering entrepreneurship.

Praising Nabil Bank’s partnership with TU for entrepreneurship promotion, he expressed that Nabil SSE would play a crucial role in job creation in future too.

Welcoming the fourth batch of the fellowship program, Nabil Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gyanendra Prasad Dhungana, shared that participants from the previous three cohorts have established 45 enterprises, creating employment for 1,200 individuals.

He also discussed the potential of utilizing the skills gained by Nepali migrant workers to develop entrepreneurship within the country. He mentioned that the bank already offers encouraging loan packages for these entrepreneurs. He stressed that small steps collectively create a significant impact.

Senior Deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, Manoj Gyawali, expressed gratitude for Tribhuvan University’s continuous support in making the program successful. He noted that the program, inspired by a successful model in India, has been effectively implemented in Nepal.

During the event, certificates were awarded to the second and third cohort fellowship participants, while the fourth batch was formally welcomed. Mentors and dignitaries emphasized that programs like Nabil SSE provide essential guidance for new entrepreneurs in their business development along with practical training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial access to support entrepreneurship development.

Moreover, fellows also expressed gratitude to Nabil Bank for providing them necessary training and mentorship to scale up their business growth. More than 20 stalls were set up at the event for product promotion and exhibition by the fellows.

Nabil Bank operates the Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. Currently, the program includes a Fellowship Program and a Certificate Course.

The Fellowship Program is conducted in collaboration with TU’s School of Management, while the Certificate Course is being run through Nabil Centers for Social Entrepreneurship established in 11 educational institutions across all seven provinces.