By 
By Oluwatobi Opusunju
Social messaging platform, Facebook, has launched in Nigeria its first African Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Council in line with its commitment to support the sector which has undoubtedly become the vehicle for economic development. Facebook will be providing the startups and business owners on the council with digital tools that will help position their businesses for growth and development.
The SMB Sales Manager, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Facebook, Abi Williams while speaking at the launch in Lagos noted that, Nigeria has a vibrant SME sector which was why she was chosen for the launch of the first SME Council on the African continent.
“Small businesses form the backbone of most of the thriving economies in the world, driving sustainable growth and creating jobs, and those in Nigeria are no different. Facebook is strategically positioned to help SME’s grow their businesses, and with a vibrant SME sector, Nigeria was a natural choice in launching our very first SME Council on the African continent. With 35 million people in other countries connected to a Nigerian business on Facebook, the global market has never been closer for Nigerian SMEs,” he said.
According to Williams, the Council which is made up of a combination 15 vibrant start-ups and established SMEs from a range of industries and locations across Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja and Enugu and Kano will help to foster a strategic partnership between Facebook Africa’s SME team and Nigerian business owners, in order to provide better digital tools for business and customer growth.
Each business in the Council is to possess wealth of unique experiences in understanding and embracing mobile strategies.
“The council will bring in experience on how to reach Nigerian customers, making them ideally positioned to offer support to other companies who need it,” Williams noted.
She said the Council members will meet a minimum of twice a year with Facebook and Instagram teams to discuss successes and challenges, business ideas and solutions.
Williams informed that the Nigerian SME Council has now joined 10 other SME Councils across the globe, including North America, Ireland, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, India and Brazil.
The Nigerian SME Council members are Paylater, DigitxPlus, Wakanow, Afro Foods & Spice Nigeria, The Legit Way Out, EasyshopEasycook, Hush’D, One Stop Baby Shop Nigeria, Mamalette, Bombay to Beirut, GIGM.com, Naphtali Party Rentals, Ìkòkò, and STM Magical Creations Ltd.
