By Olusegun Adeosun
Managing director and founder of Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, has said that lack of basic social and technology know-how to grow business in today’s tech-driven world is one of the key factors mitigating against the growth of SMEs in Nigeria.
He said this during a media parley held in Lagos to reveal the firm’s plans for the 2019 edition of the annual business fair tagged, Connect Nigeria Business Fair.
Okafor said many SME operators and entrepreneurs have always emphasized lack of access to funds and infrastructure, as the major hurdles to their development. But he noted that they also need to find means of getting to those who need their products across the world, using the right technology and ideas, which is what the fair is set out to achieve.’
‘It is an information-driven world now,” Okafor continued. ”What we do is to teach people how to use technology to enhance their businesses, to enhance the processes, to enhance the product, so that they will be able to get more client, without having to spend too much money. We know that people who learn do a lot better, they learn more and business will thrive.’
The fair, which is the 7th in series will hold between Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27 at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.
Explaining the theme of the fair, Grow Global, Okafor said, “it is because e-business changes almost every day and we want people to catch up with it. This year, we want those who have already caught up with it to grow to the next level. Your market is not just Nigeria, your market is everywhere in the world”
Okafor added that participants at the fair will explore the many business prospects available while entrepreneurs will learn the skills they need to grow their businesses in today’s tech-driven world.
“No product or service is off limits. Participants should ensure the packaging is presentable. Over the years, there have been products and services ranging from banking solutions to fashion and beauty, catering services, real estate, online marketing hubs, telecoms, ICT solution providers, booksellers, and media houses, among others.Taking part in the exhibition positions participants as a reputable brand, because their goods and or services will be displayed, alongside brands from reputable companies.
The Connect Nigeria boss, who said that there will be a segment specifically for ‘Made In Nigeria’ goods including handcraft, added that the fair is dedicated to promoting business for SMEs, assisting Nigerian businesses achieve global competitiveness, empowering thousands of business owners, start-ups, and aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling them to fast-track the growth of their businesses by leveraging the power of technology.
“United Nations projected that the country’s population would increase to 300 million by 2050 and a good number of these people are entrepreneurs. If we sustain this platform like we have continued to, it will affect the economy positively, especially when the population increases further,” he said.
Based on previous degree of turnout, it is expected that the Business Fair will draw about 15 thousand participants including entrepreneurs and business owners.
The firm is providing 400 booths to ease business interaction
The 2019 edition of Connect Nigeria’s Business Fair will feature players in the economic, social and technology sectors will deliver key note speeches as well as hold an interactive panel session. Some of the key speakers are Co-Founder, So Fresh limited, Mrs. Abimbola Balogun; Chief Executive Officer, Farmcrowdy limited, Mr. Onyeka Akumah; Co-Founder, Platform NG, Mrs. Uju Obuekwe; Managing Director, SB Telecoms, Mr. Afolabi Abiodun, and General Manager, Win-Win Kitchen Limited, Mrs. Florence Opawoye, among others.
Meanwhile, Head Marketing and Strategy, Rack Centre, Mrs Ejieke Ezeadiugwu who was also present at the parley, lauded the organizers of the Business Fair stating that equipping SMEs with the necessary technology and entrepreneurial skills as obtainable at the business fair will set the economy up for industrialisation, poverty alleviation, youth development, foreign direct investment generation and SME development.
However, Director-General, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Joyce Akpata, who emphasised the importance of SMEs in nationals development, stressed that other skills most Nigerian SMEs lack are their inability to clearly define roles and responsibilities, separate ownership and management of the entity and preparation of financial records. She said necessary reforms will open the way for public-private partnerships, which can provide investment for infrastructure development and maintenance.
The Connect Nigeria Business Fair is free, but the intending participants will need to register online.