Saturday, July 27, 2013

Market Access Nigeria Abuja 2013 Edition has come and gone

Market Access Nigeria, #MarketAccessNg Abuja Edition for 2013, has come and gone. It was a wonderful experience as usual, with lots of activities and information available to entrepreneurs in the region.

Market Access Nigeria is an initiative that brings together Small and Growing Businesses [SGBs] and large conglomerates and parastatals in one place, to facilitate networking, and create a platform for structured networking among SGBs, enable local content development and participation in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, and to bridge the gap between large companies and SGBs while fostering networking and partnership opportunities.

Market Access Nigeria is facilitated by the Enterprise Development Centre [EDC] of the Pan-Atlantic University [PAU] and our main partners are Etisalat, the Ministry of Trade and Investment [MTI], and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria [SMEDAN].

Each year, Market Access Nigeria takes place several times, in various locations around the country. The main highlights for each event is usually informative speeches from large companies, SMEDAN or MTI, the pitching session wherein five SGBs get to pitch their businesses, and the various awards presented.

You can read about past programs:
- Market Access Nigeria 2012 Port Harcourt Edition here,
- Market Access Nigeria 2012 Abuja Edition here,
- Market Access Nigeria 2013 Calabar Edition here and here.

This year's Abuja Edition was exciting, and attendees left on a high note. They had been treated to a "Testimonies" session, where former attendees came to give report on how attending Market Access Nigeria had given their business and their network a gigantic boost. A hotelier at Port Harcourt who attended Market Access Port Harcourt and Enugu and followed them to Lagos. He now has at least twenty-five (25) people from Market Access who have patronized his hotel, while a food items contractor, through Market Access, got contracts to supply Transcorp Hilton and now Tinapa, with food items.

The Etisalat representative at the event, Mr. Bidemi, spoke about their collaboration with PAU, SMEDAN, and other partners to grow the SME sector in Nigeria. He mentioned this year's previous edition in Calabar, and the successes there, and also spoke about the SMEToolkit, an online resource that provides training and other needed assets for SMEs. Mr. Bidemi introduced Etisalat's Easy Business Line, a package that is targeted at making business easier for SGBs, with free calls within a business and other benefits.

The main highlight of the day was the interactive session, dubbed "SGB Access to Finance in Nigeria - a dead road?", and the panelists were Dr. Jerry Abba [CBN], Mr. Jude Anele [Diamond Bank], Mrs. Ekaette Umoh [MD, Business Support Microfinance Bank], and the moderator, Mr. Obinna Uruakpa.
It was a truly interactive session with participants highlighting the loops in the Nigerian system, offering advice to SGBs and answering questions. Find a cross-section of the buzz below.


The pitching session was also very exciting, with various methods employed by the 5 pitchers. The attendees cheered on and chose their favorites, and Etisalat presented gifts to them, ranging from Etisalat CUG lines with 4,000 recharge card on each, to internet-ready phones, which can also be used to connect desktops for internet access. The overall winner was Jemima Angulu of The Krump Dance Studios, followed by Doreen Anyinyei of Gardens by R & D, and Mrs. Esesua Adeyemi of Saisy's Afterschool.

The attendees were also encouraged to interact with others, and boost there business network.

The train is moving to Port Harcourt! Start getting ready to be there - last year brought large companies like Dansa Limited, Leventis, IGI, Shell Petroleum and more!
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