At NBC Trade Fair, Digital SMEs get credibility

Nigerians who attended the trade fair recently put together for online vendors in Nigeria, was celebrated for giving credibility to the digital Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.

The Naija Brand Chic (NBC) is an annual trade fair for online vendors, where goods – both edible and non-edible are colourfully displayed for customers as they excitedly sauntered into the premises to make purchases.

The organizer of the trade fair, Mrs. Agbogu Nelly, said the fair was an intentional move towards bringing online vendors and their customers under the same roof.

According to her, the initiative sought to give more visibility to small-scale businesses in Nigeria, especially those that are currently battling with the limitations of owning and running their businesses.

She said: “This is the final trade fair for the year and it is exciting to see small-scale businesses flourishing. The idea of the trade fair is to bring online vendors and their customers together.

“Online vendors are always perceived as scammers but a trade fair such as this erases that scare. We picked 200 online vendors out of the 5000 that applied. Thank God they have recorded huge sales since yesterday the trade fair started.”

Adding: “We intend to extend this to other states of the country. We are calling on sponsors to support in improving our economy by creating more visibility for online vendors.”

A renowned business coach, who is also a participant, Mrs. Folake Akanni, commended the organizers of the event. She also stressed the need for organizing similar trade fairs to create visibility for small-scale businesses as it is done in developed climes.

She said: “This is a laudable initiative. As an online vendor, I have gained more visibility through this trade fair, and made extra profits and it has helped to motivate me to do more in marketing my business.

“This trade fair will further boost the economy of the country. I am just returning from China and almost everyone who has a nine to five hours’ job also has a business of production or selling. Government and the private sector players should sponsor trade fairs like this.”

Also, an excited customer, Aniekan Ben, said the goods she purchased were very satisfactory and the experience at the trade fair was rewarding.

“I am here at the trade fair as a buyer to support and patronize SME owners like myself. Naija Brand Chick’s trade fair has been here for a while but this is my first time being physically present for it.

“The goods I purchased are so satisfying. The trade fair gives online vendors credibility at this time when the online space is full of fraudsters. I certainly will be part of this as a vendor come 2024”, She said.