Opeke, MainOne CEO @ Fidelity SME Forum, Gives Survival Tips to SMEs

Funke Opeke, chief executive officer of MainOne, has urged small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) operating in Nigeria need to pay greater attention to business intelligence in their quest to survive and deliver impactful products and services in the country.

Funke Opeke, MainOne CEO

Opeke, made the recommendation while featuring as a guest on a radio programme, ‘Fidelity SME Forum’ in Lagos.

According to  Opeke, SMEs, individuals or teams trying to build their startups into multinational companies need to first find their niche, develop a comprehensive business plan and prove that they can deliver great services and add value to their customers.

“In a country like Nigeria where there are a number of challenges, if you are trying to build a multinational company, you have to add value to your customers, surround yourself with good mentors and, depending on your size, have a board of directors that can provide guidance,” Opeke said.

Drawing from the experience of MainOne, which started operations over 10 years ago, Ms. Opeke underscored the immense opportunities that exist in Nigeria, especially in the services space, and identified quality service delivery as one of the elements that remain missing in the country.

The need to grow Nigeria’s SME base has remained topical considering the potential impact of SMEs on the economy. A research report published by professional services firm, PWC suggests that at present, SMEs contribute 48 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product account for 96 per cent of businesses and 84 per cent of employment.

Despite the significant contribution of SMEs to the Nigerian economy, challenges still persist that hinder the growth and development of the sector.

In response to the technology needs of SMEs, MainOne has developed a set of services to enable businesses resilient, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our business supports SMEs through technology,” Opeke said. “We have a product called SME-in-a-Box and Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) packages which we rolled out last year.

“These products enable small businesses enjoy the same quality of services that larger corporates have to support their operations.”

MainOne is a leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. Its world-class infrastructure supports business growth and stimulates the digitization of the region.

The company has established itself as the regional connectivity and data centre services provider in West Africa with presence in 10 countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.