Stage Africa Media and Advisory has reiterated its commitment to equipping small business owners with essential resources, strategic guidance and invaluable insights crucial for navigating the competitive market landscape.
Through its project, Small Business Saturday, Stage Africa engages in quarterly strategy sessions tailored exclusively for entrepreneurs, offering a comprehensive platform focused on various key areas of business development.
According to a statement signed by Principal Consultant and founder, Stage Africa Media and Advisory, Omotoyosi Ajayi, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are essential to the growth of any economy because they have a significant potential to create jobs, advance local technology, diversify output, foster home grown entrepreneurship and integrate with large-scale industries.
Quoting statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), she said SMEs contribute about 48 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, making them a critical driver of economic growth and development.
According to her, small businesses play a crucial role and contribute to the economy’s expansion and a strong economy typically has a strong small business sector.
She stated that in Nigeria, SMEs account for 96 per cent of businesses and 84 per cent of employment.
She said limited market access, knowledge gaps, and competition amongst others are some key challenges faced by SMEs in Nigeria, noting that the initiative is aimed at providing practical solutions to help overcome them.
Ajayi expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs by offering tailored solutions that address the challenges they face in their business journey. We aim to provide not just theoretical knowledge but practical, actionable strategies that can be immediately implemented to foster growth and success.
“The initiative will encompass crucial focus areas such as business advisory solutions, which includes tailored guidance addressing financial management, operational efficiency, and strategic planning, growth marketing strategies, digital skills for business growth, which consists of workshops on digital literacy and online platforms vital for business development, strategic communications such as effective communication strategies, brand positioning for a robust brand presence and personal branding solutions for founders and executives to establish authority and influence.”
Ajayi added that each session would be a dynamic mix of interactive workshops, keynote presentations from industry experts, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, ensuring entrepreneurs gain practical insights applicable to their businesses immediately.
