Austin Okere, founder and CEO of Computer Warehouse Group Plc, stated the three powers that could help contribute to the success of small and medium enterprises at a conference in Nigeria
According to the entrepreneur, the three strategic methods are will power, way power and wait power. Okere shared these insights at the Annual Fidelity SMEs conference held in Lagos, where he spoke at a panel discussion titled Leveraging Technology for SME growth.
The panel featured entrepreneurs from Nigeria’s ICT sector such as Leo Stan Ekeh, founder of Zinox Technologies; Nicolas Martin, CEO and co-founder of Jumia; Charles Anudu, CEO of SWIFT Networks; Bankole Cardoso, founder of Easy Taxi; Opeyemi Awoyemi, co-founder of Jobberman and Funke Opeke, CEO of Main One.
Okere said, “The three powers are secrets that will keep every entrepreneur going. Will power is the competence you possess to run your business; the knowledge of how to run the enterprise you want to venture into. Many people will start a business, create solutions, and then go about looking for the problems. And when people don’t buy it, they become disappointed. You first ought to be finding out peoples’ problems and pain points then create solutions that ameliorate the pain. This is the best way to ensure patronage.”
The CEO of Computer Warehouse Group elaborated on how SMEs could leverage technology to maximise results, for which he encouraged merchants to explore the opportunities afforded by the CWG 2.0 platform. The platform would help democratise the technologies used by companies such as Jumia and Konga to make them available to 1.7mn MSMEs in Nigeria.
“SMERP and Openshopen platforms are designed to meet the peculiar needs of SMEs in Nigeria. Openshopen will give you the visibility your business requires to thrive in this age where businesses are going online, while SMERP will take care of your accounting and generate the records banks like Fidelity will require from you to access loans. Beyond that, they are reliable and affordable, and are available on a subscription basis.”
Understanding the value the platform could bring to the SME’s in the country, SMEDAN recently signed an MoU with CWG Plc culminating in a partnership that would address the technology needs of the sector.
Nnamdi Okonkwo, managing director of Fidelity Bank Plc stated that the bank’s aim is to produce successful businessman like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who runs a multinational conglomerate; and eventually overcome challenges in Nigeria’s SME sector.
