A marketing and communications company, Verdant Zeal, has reiterated the importance of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key players in not only Nigerias economic growth, but Africas.

The firm said governments and other development partners needed to harness the power of technology to make a quantum leap in order to have a fair chance of development on continental scale. The company said it was casting a long range vision for the future by focusing on growing technology among African youths.

Its Group Director, Synergy, Mr. Dipo Adesida, while briefing reporters in Lagos earlier in the week, disclosed that his firm planned to train youths on how e-commerce and mobile money would help grow the economy as part of the innovation series the firm was promoting.

Adesida said the initiative was part of the desire to give back to the society as the company celebrates its 10thAnniversary. We, as Verdant Zeal, will not only galvanise the youth and inspire them to think differently, but will ensure a robust engagement so that some of them would have opportunities to live out their dreams, he assured.

As part of the innovation series instituted to examine the question of Africas development and hone opportunities for growth, he stated that the firm would also leverage on inherent strengths.

To achieve this, a lecture/symposium is being organised by the firm, with the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje and Etisalats Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Matthew Willsher as discussants to encourage the youths.

He said: Africa is gradually moving from a resource based economy to knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. This has helped in impacting our youths as more youths now are exposed to the internet and get to share ideas with both local and foreign friends.

The Group Director Marketing & Business Development and Chairperson, 10th Anniversary Planning Committee, Nkiruka Oguadinma, said there would be an art exhibition showcasing their operations in Africa. She said the exhibition would cover artefacts from nine African countries.

On their expansion drive in Africa, Oguadinma said they were studying the business bend in other African countries.

According to her, any income from the exhibition will be donated to the Society for the Blind and Sickle Cell society.

Excerpt from:

Firm canvasses technology strategy - The Nation Newspaper