Etisalat Fosters SME Growth at 12th Edition of Market Access

Over 100 entrepreneurs in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector attended the 12^th edition of Etisalat’s business networking seminar, Market Access, which held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at The Dome Hall, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Themed ‘‘Enhancing SME Growth through Access to Market’’, the one-day business networking and knowledge sharing session was described as part of Etisalat’s contribution towards developing the SME sector of the Nigerian economy.

Speaking at the event the Head, Regional Sales, South-South, Etisalat Nigeria, Enekwachi Aja said the telecommunications company believed that the SME sector has abundant growth opportunities and it would continue to support the sector in order for it to sustain the economy.

Aja added, ‘‘At Etisalat, Market Access offers us the opportunity to educate and empower our business partners in the SME sector with information and networking opportunities needed to succeed in their businesses.’’

He revealed that ‘‘10 entrepreneurs received a grant of N2 million each and 6-month mentorship program at Enterprise Development Center (EDC), Pan-Atlantic University, in the first edition of Etisalat’s Easybusiness Millionaires Hunt – another platform through which Etisalat Nigeria empowers SMEs.’’

Aja emphasized that Small and Medium enterprises are important to all economies in the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria with major employment and income distribution challenges and that sector should never be neglected.

Since inception, the seminar has taken place in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos with a combined audience of over 2,000 entrepreneurs. The next editions of the Etisalat SME Market Access takes place in Abuja and Lagos.