9mobile Promotes SMEs Empowerment at Market Access Forum

Emma Okonji

Telecommunications company, 9mobile, held the 18th edition of its quarterly Small and Medium-scale Enterprise (SMEs) networking and empowerment forum, 9mobile Market Access, in Lagos recently, with the theme: ‘Access to Sustainable Market for SMEs: Challenges and Opportunities’, empowering scores of entrepreneurs.

9mobile Market Access, which is organised by the telecoms company in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University, provides a platform for SME owners to interact with large corporations with the objective of sharing knowledge and strategies that can enable the growth of start-ups and small businesses.

Speaking at the event, Director, Enterprise Segment, 9mobile, Plato Syrimis, said: “At 9mobile Market Access, we help to create the connection that enables you to hit the ground running with the brilliant ideas and insights that are shared. 9mobile recognises the impact of SMEs towards enabling the growth of any economy and this is why we have remained consistent in offering our assistance and support to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises through our innovative platforms and services.

Our commitment and consistency have earned us a reputation as Nigeria’s Most SME-friendly Company and Market Access is just one of the many platforms through which we empower SMEs.”

Syrimis added; “Our morebusiness proposition is focused on supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy by developing SMEs and providing innovative solutions designed to enhance their businesses. In addition, the SME Arena is an online community that is now very active with daily posts, comments and interactions with content provided by in-house contributors, merchants, and other community members. In 2016, we had 1,462 merchants on the SME Arena and this number has grown to 3,490 merchants within a short time frame.”

The keynote speaker at the forum, who is the Executive Director, Nigerian Association of SMEs, Eke Obiji, highlighted some of the opportunities available to the Nigerian SME market and the challenges that hinder the growth of the sector.

“Globally, SMEs are seen as engine rooms to economic growth and Nigeria is no exception. A country like China is utilising the benefits of their population and Nigeria should learn from this,” Obiji said.

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