Airtel Networks Limited, one of the Nigeria’s leading telecommunications companies, has restated its commitment to boosting SME growth and contributions to the economy.
Tolu Ojo, the Company’s chief operations officer (COO), gave the assurance while speaking to a gathering of entrepreneurs and exhibitors at a business forum organised by the telecoms firm for small and medium business operators in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja last during the week.
The Abuja Business forum, a capacity enhancement session with the theme: ‘Emerging Business Today, Market Leader Tomorrow’, was attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs, and it provided networking opportunities as well as robust interactive platforms for business owners to gain valuable business insights in over six SMEs industry categories which include Services, Manufacturing, Transportation, Education, M-commerce and Financial services.
The main speakers at the one-day event were Ndidi Nwuneli, founder, Leap Africa and the CEO of Bisi Olatilo Show, ace broadcaster, Mr. Bisi Olatilo who shared their experiences at nurturing small enterprises into big businesses in Nigeria.
In his speech, Ojo noted that since inception, Airtel has consistently led the drive for capacity building in the SME sub-sector with offer of requisite business skills and solutions that enable higher productivity and growth in businesses.
His words, “Since we started operations in Nigeria, Airtel has maintained consistency in its efforts to empower Nigerian businesses through a wide range of unique opportunities. We are focused on demonstrating our commitment to the brand vision of being the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.”
Speaking further, the Airtel’s COO explained that the company’s recognition of the ‘entrepreneurial drive’ of Nigerians is testified to by the various products, offerings and platforms it has created and also offers in a bid to help them achieve their dreams.
“As a truly Nigerian company, we value the entrepreneurial drive of our men and women. This is why we create and offer products and platforms that will help them achieve their dreams. The Airtel SME Forum is another way of empowering our entrepreneurs to be innovative and also contribute to the prosperity of the nation and the development of the economy,” he said.
The forum also featured exhibitions by some partner organisations to Airtel which include Interswitch, Fortis Group, Unity Bank, Fort Knox, COTEK Integrated Technologies, Bb King, Trefoils Network, Abuja Enterprise Agency and Leap Africa.