Google to Assist Businesses in Getting Online @ Web Fair

Google will bring together thousands of business owners for the Get Nigerian Businesses Online (GNB0) 2012 web fair, which will take place on April 26th and 27th 2012 at the City Hall, Catholic Mission Street, in Onikan, Lagos.

Launched in September 2011, GNBO is a Google initiative aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) create free websites.

Juliet Ehimuan, Google Nigeria Country Manager, said: “The goal of the GNBO program is to make it easier for Nigerian entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by taking advantage of the power of the web. Over 20,000 sites have been created since launch, showing that SMEs in Nigeria are well aware of the opportunities presented by the Internet and are already benefiting from these.”

Commenting on the 2012 Web Fair, Adeola Azeez, chair person of the Women in Management and Business group (WIMBIZ) said: “The Internet presents immense opportunities for the growth and expansion of small businesses in Nigeria.

Google’s GNBO Web Fair initiative is an avenue for SMEs to build their online presence and grow their turnover and build their business profiles. I encourage all businesses without an online presence to take advantage of the fair!”

During the fair, participants will be able to create their own individualized websites with support from trainers.  The event is open to all SMEs who want to gain an online presence via a website. 

Some of the benefits that entrepreneurs will enjoy by registering with GNBO include access to a free and easy tool to create a fully functional business website, free gnbo.com.ng sub-domain name, free matching mobile website, free web hosting and free Google collaboration tools for up to 10 users

To get a free website, intending participants need a valid identity card, an active Gmail email address, a working laptop or tablet that is Internet enabled (if available), prepared business content (photos, company write ups and marketing material in digital format using a USB/ flash drive) relating to the business.