Lucas Dada, director, Business Segment at Etisalat Nigeria has reiterated his company’s support to the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country.
Dada who stated this at the last edition of the Etisalat Market Access for 2013 put together by Etisalat Nigeria, and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University, to support growth of small and medium enterprises, said Etisalat was particularly committed to building formidable SMEs in Nigeria, by creating capacity and opportunities for the young business owners to gain access to the larger market.
‘Being five years old ourselves, we recognize the importance of a strong start. Etisalat has achieved 16 million subscribers, since its launch in 2008, thanks to customer-focused strategies, innovation and diligence. We have realized that the small and medium enterprises run on their own steam and so there is need for platforms that bring them in contact with big businesses and executives from various sectors. They can network and build partnerships from here. From our previous sessions across the country, we have produced success stories of entrepreneurs who expanded their network and went ahead to clinch contracts. The Etisalat Market Access is about adding value to the small business owner and in the long run, building Nigeria’s economy,’ he said.
Dada disclosed that Etisalat Nigeria had developed the network’s Easybusiness service platform and the new Easybusiness Millionaire Hunt, specifically with the young and upcoming entrepreneurs in mind. ‘Easybusiness is a Close User Group (CUG) for business owners so they can spend less on contacting employees and suppliers.
They can register up to 100 employees in the CUG, call as many customers as they want with no restrictions and even send free SMS.
The Easybusiness Millionaire Hunt on the other hand is an initiative launched to empower SMEs with grants worth N20 million, free training at the EDC, office equipment and mobile devices. Easybusiness from Etisalat aims to help entrepreneurs realise their business ideas.
At Etisalat, we believe SME is the bedrock of leading economies and it is our duty to contribute our quota to the economy by nurturing emerging business owners,’ he said.
Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, director general of the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), represented at the event by Oguche Agudah, Special Assistant (access to finance) to the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the significance of Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) in the growth, productivity and competitiveness of the economies of developing countries is unquestionable.
‘Not only do they provide employment and income for the bulk of the population, they have been acknowledged as critical breeding and nurturing grounds for domestic entrepreneurial capacities, technical skills, technological innovativeness and managerial competencies for private sector development. Consequently, I want to specifically express my appreciation to Etisalat Nigeria, the EDC, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other stakeholders for supporting and putting this innovative and important forum together for the benefit of small and growing businesses in Lagos,’ he said.
Young and upcoming entrepreneurs across Nigeria have come to accept the Etisalat Market Access as a platform that helps them expand their network, learn how to grow their businesses and showcase their emerging businesses to other business owners, potential clients and leaders from various sectors of the economy.