On Saturday 18, 2017, Eko Hotel played host to the Connect Nigeria E-Business fair, Africa’s biggest SME event.
The fair, which was being held for the sixth time since its inception, was attended by aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners and big players in the Nigerian business space. Participants heard experienced business professionals and key players in major industries speak about the great potential technology has to drive enterprise growth; they also had the chance to network with business people and get great bargains from major brands that exhibited at the fair.
The overarching concern of the talks and Q & A sessions at the fair was the practical application of technology for business success. In three forums, speakers intimated the audience about technology driven solutions that were available to them and addressed real-world challenges faced by businesses operating in Nigeria’s challenging business environment.
Angel Fadahunsi, Deputy Director of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, kicked off the first panel with a talk on tax authorities’ engagement with businesses, including provisions for filing tax returns and making tax payments online. An accounting solution to small businesses’ finance-related problems was presented by Nikki Summers, Director of Sage One for East and West Africa; Paul Ayim of Phillips Consulting described new ways of developing company staff by deploying innovative techniques; Ayotunde Coker, Rack Centre’s Managing Director, spoke about starting off business with the aim of developing a world-class enterprise, by leveraging on technology.
In another of the sessions, panelists explored ways of growing businesses in the modern world. Renowned fashion designer Mai Atafo pointed to the use of social media as important for publicity and encouraged small businesses to find automated systems which could make their business processes easier. His words re-echoed the contribution of Bankole Oluwafemi, Editor-in-Chief of TechCabal, who noted that it was the application of technology (and not just possessing it) that could make the difference in business.
The speakers had advice for startups on funding. Ahmad Mukoshy, CTO of Gigalayer, advocated bootstrapping for ventures that were just beginning to take off; Gossy Ukanwoke, Founder of BAU Research and Development, said it was important for businesses to ready themselves for funding in order to make proper use of it when it comes; and Godwin Benson of Tuteria proposed that businesses rely more on plough-backs and treat their customers as investors.
There was also much activity at the exhibition stands, where various brands showcased their products and services and offered them at discounts to people who visited their booths.
Participants came away with a greater knowledge of the importance of technology to their businesses, and a greater appreciation for what the combination of entrepreneurial drive and technological efficiency can bring about for their specific ventures.
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