The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)has signed a memorandum of understanding with national telecommunications operator, Globacom, with to boost small and medium entrepreneurs across the country.
The partnership will compliment government’s drive in growing the nation’s economy by stimulating small and medium enterprises as over 17 million entrepreneurs belong to SMEDAN.
During the official signing of the MoU at Globacom’s headquarters in Lagos, Kamaldeen Shonibare, Globacom’s Head, Corporate Sales, said that by this partnership, members of SMEDAN have access to grants, soft loans and training in entrepreneurship.
He explained that the training opportunities have been carefully put together to equip the entrepreneurs with international best practices that will move their businesses forward.
“As a proudly Nigerian company, Globacom is partnering with SMEDAN to catapult Nigeria to greatness through the empowerment of its over 17 million members. We will support SMEDAN and its affiliates with money, sensitization workshops and business tools.
We will also support the Industrial Development Centres being established in some states of the federation. Our dream is to catapult a five thousand naira business to a half a million naira enterprises within one year,” Shonibare said.
“Our partnership with SMEDAN is in sync with our irrevocable commitment to the promotion of the welfare of Nigerians through our various life-transforming empowerment programmes. Over the years, we have invested heavily in such programmes. Our empowerment schemes are multi faceted and across various demographics,” Shonibare stated adding that Globacom had touched lives in all the three tiers of government, financial sector, sports, arts and culture, technology, fashion, education, agriculture and technology,” he added.
Shonibare pointed out that the partnership is an attestation of Globacom’s commitment to empower Nigerians which is the crux of its corporate social responsibility policy, adding that “we have been committed to continuously give back to the communities where we operate”.
Shonibare reiterated Globacom’s continuous support to all profitable areas of human endeavor including sports and entertainment. He encouraged entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the window of opportunity that will lead to more future business prospects.
He told SMEDAN members that they will enjoy more telecoms benefit as Globacom has concluded arrangements to empower them with specialized lines for better and seamless communication.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Bature Umar Masari said “SMEDAN is happy to partner with an indigenous company which has become a global brand. Ever since Glo demystified the myth that per-second billing for calls was not possible, they have not stopped developing products and services that are beneficial to Nigerians, especially the masses”.
Masari explained that the partnership which will run for an initial period of five years with the opportunity for attractive call rates as Closed User Groups (CUGs) and a channel to advertise their products and services via Call Back Ring Tone.
He explained that the project will also give 10 percent of the net revenue from the partnership to select Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)who subscribed to the package. “It is also laudable that this initiative was well thought through and has stakeholders input and buy-in,” he enthused.
