Facebook supports SMEs in Nigeria

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in
Nigeria have received a boost after a leading global
online social networking company conducted a round-
table with the companies.
The initiative by Facebook is part of efforts to
support entrepreneurship in West Africa.
The sessions, also held in Ghana, focused on how
Facebook could help small businesses reach the right
customers for less money and with greater returns.
It follows the realisation more than 50 million small
businesses around the world actively use Facebook
Pages, which are free, while more than 2,5 million
SMEs worldwide actively invest their hard-earned
dollars with Facebook every month. The number has
reportedlydoubled in the past two years.
A growing number of them are in Africa where 54
people of people on Facebook in Nigeria are
connected to a small or medium business.
Nunu Ntshingila, Head of Africa for Facebook, said
Africa was home to some of the world’s most vibrant
and exciting small businesses, and these enterprises
are the backbone of the economy. These smaller
businesses drive economic growth and create jobs
that lift people to prosperity.
“The number one reason they succeed or fail is their
ability to attract customers. As more and more
people turn to smartphones and the web to discover
and connect with businesses, Facebook is the best
platform for African SMEs to promote their brands,”
said Ntshingila.
Nicola Mendelsohn, EMEA Vice President at
Facebook, said technology was driving real progress.
“We are invigorated by how Ghanaian and Nigerian
SMEs are using Facebook to grow brand awareness
and boost engagement with their customers. We look
forward to doing more to support entrepreneurs as
they build their businesses,” said Mendelsohn.