Indigenous firm empowers SMEs for productivity

CHALLENGED by the need to bridge the digital divide evidenced in the majority of Nigerians, Sophia ERP Limited through its Automate Africa (AA) Initiative is set to empower Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in sub-Saharan Africa with its technology solution to operate their businesses more effectively and efficiently while focusing on growing their enterprises profitably.

The Chief Executive Officer/Founder of Sophia ERP Ltd., Mr. Conrad Adigwe, made this known at the Africa’s first FREESME Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solution for African SMEs held at Four Points, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He maintained that this step became necessary as most African SMEs have, for several years, been unable to afford robust business software such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The lofty prices of most ERP software pose a stern barrier to most African SMEs and their accessibility to the solution.

Quoting Didier Acouetey, President and Founder of AfricSearch Group” – he said
“Globally, SMEs account for over 95% of the business population. They constitute between 60 – 70 percent employments and contribute between 50 – 60 percent to GDP. In Africa, SMEs represent 90 percent of privately-owned African companies, 33 percent of the continent’s GDP and account for 45 percent of new jobs. “SMEs are vascularizing the African economy,”

Mrs. Enife Atobiloye, MD/CEO of Human Leadership Resources asserted that SMEs in Africa can leapfrog their businesses by adopting and using Sophia ERP SME (FREE) Edition. While large organizations have been able to adopt ERP solutions from foreign product vendors, these SMEs that are key to fueling the future growth of most economies, cannot afford such costs.