The
Executive Director, Development Information Network Mr. Bankole Olubamise, on
Tuesday said that improved Information Communication Technologies (ICT)
infrastructure would enhance the development of small businesses.
He said that the
SMEs were generally perceived as engine of growth in developing countries.
``But due to the
galloping development of ICT worldwide, SMEs in developing countries like
Nigeria face a formidable task surviving and competing in a global market,” he
said. Olubamise said that
the presence of enabling infrastructure would also propel ICT to deliver
unprecedented opportunities to SMEs in Nigeria.
``SMEs case studies
provide substantial evidence of increased ICT adoption in low-income countries
and positive ICT effects on SMEs performance,” he said.
Olubamise said the
wide usage of the available technologies showed that adoption of ICT could be
key element in giving SMEs in the country an edge and to be globally
competitive. ``Most SMEs owners
believe that being connected to the internet is being ICT compliant. There are
so many other things that will make SMEs to be ICT compliant, but we lack the infrastructure.
``These are just
few of such technologies necessary for SMEs in the country to be locally and
globally competitive,” he said. Olubamise said that
low penetration rates in ICT usage were responsible for the low usage of ICT by
SMEs generally.
``In addition and
perhaps more important, the lack of complementary infrastructure may reduce the
opportunities for firms adopting ICT to perform better,’’ he said.
Daily
Times Nigeria