IBM recently held a workshop for 30 young entrepreneurs in a
variety of industries, teaching them how to manage and grow their businesses
more effectively.
The session, which was funded by IBM's first service
grant in Africa and Middle East, was held in collaboration with FATE
Foundation, a wealth creation and skills development non-profit organization.
Participants included entrepreneurs involved in Internet
marketing, printing, event management, furniture making, catering, agriculture,
renewable energy, research, healthcare, carpet retailing and market research.
The workshop was designed to help create fresh organisational
perspectives and prepare the entrepreneurs for the competition and business
development challenges of their respective sectors.
Speaking on the workshop, IBM’s Corporate Citizenship
and Corporate Affairs Leader, West Africa, Remi Abere, said: “IBM is
committed to narrowing the skills gap and helping small businesses in Nigeria,
especially in ICT, to become more efficient in their operations. This workshop
has certainly helped participants to begin to entrench smart initiatives in
their respective businesses.”
Participants had the opportunity to use the IBM small
and medium scale enterprises (SME)Toolkit, a free set of practical,
"how-to" tutorials and templates pertaining to finance, accounting,
international business, marketing, operations, insurance, human resources and
legal matters.
For Nigeria, the toolkit has been customised by the Lagos Business
School of the Pan-African University in Lekki, Lagos.
The IBM Services Grants programme is targeted
specifically at small business owners in emerging markets. The Small and Medium
Enterprise Department of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the
World Bank Group also collaborated with IBM on its SME Toolkit.
"The workshop was detailed and educative,
I will surely be able to handle my projects better from now on," said an
interior decorator, Adenike Bamgboye. "I
recommend this training for every SME business," said, a health and beauty
consultant, Nse Onyebuchi.
Skills shortage, education and business management knowledge have
been identified as the bane of the SME sector in Nigeria. So, having the right
knowledge, the right skills and the right tools and techniques will help
deliver the right business results, IBM said.
Emma Okonji
THISDAY Nigeria