The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has charged Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage on Information Communication Technology(ICT) in boosting their businesses operations.
The training, which took place in Lagos, was the first phase of the National Vocational Training and Entrepreneurial Scheme on ICT of the Agency and over 80 participates were trained.
Speaking, the director-general/CEO of SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya, stated that, skill development in ICT among women and youth is one of the critical priority areas identified by the SMEDAN in her pursuit to facilitate and sustain a vibrant MSMEs sub-sector that will be the major driver of national economic growth and development.
He noted that the MSMEs sub-sector is significant to sustainable economic development and the Agency is facilitating the establishment of a structured and efficient MSMEs sub-sector that can access all the resources required for their development.
According to Fasanya, the strategic training on e-commerce (online marketing), computer repairs and GSM repairs is therefore another proof of the Agency’s concerted effort aimed at inculcating entrepreneurship values, emergence of new MSMEs among youths and profitable expansion of existing MSMEs.
“The strategic objective of this program is to deliver upgraded capacity to the carefully selected participants with a view to improving the productivity and quality of their services while remaining locally and globally competitive.
“The program is designed to provide participants with ICT capabilities that will enhance their business; deliver training on the software they can use to promote business growth; train a network of hardware repair technicians on computer repairs and maintenance; improve access to ICT services and opportunities for MSMEs; and promote computer literacy and use for MSMEs,” he pointed out.
He noted that ICT plays a significant role in escalating the profitability of enterprises by granting access to new and competitive markets and other innovative resources, saying, in the present business ecosystem, majority of entrepreneurs are adopting internet-based businesses to become more efficient, gain robust customer base and improved competitiveness.
“By leveraging on ICT, MSMEs can reach out to global customers for their products and services, break geographical borders/barriers and market their products to at minimal costs and time,” he added.
He assured of SMEDAN’s support towards ensuring that MSMEs sub-sector achieve its dream in the areas of job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.
The participants appreciated the Agency for the training. In addition to the benefits that participants derived from the capacity building, the Agency empowered them with materials (Laptops, Computer repairs kits and GSM repairs kits).
