GoOnline Nigeria to Launch at TechPlus 2017 in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria. June 6, 2017: GoOnline Nigeria will announce 25 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to benefit for free in the pilot of the business growth programme for digital transformation of SMEs in Nigeria launching July 6 at TechPlus 2017 in Lagos.

GoOnline Nigeria is running a #GoOnlineNigeriaSME50 campaign on its official portal, www.goonline.ng, to select 50 SMEs to benefit from the national programme that promotes digital transformation of SMES across Nigeria.

GoOnline Nigeria has selected TechPlus 2017, Africa’s largest technology gathering holding July 6-8, 2017 under the theme, “An Intelligent Future” at The Landmark Centre Victoria Island in Lagos for the launch of the programme.

Mr Foluso Busari, Executive Director, Programmes at GoOnline Nigeria, announced that 50 successful SMEs in the #GoOnlineNigeriaSME50 campaign underway will be announced at TechPlus 2017 to formally launch the GoOnline Nigeria programme in the country.

Busari said that, “after several years of planning, we are pleased to announce that we have seen TechPlus 2017 as a valuable platform to serve as our launch pad for GoOnline Nigeria. GoOnline Nigeria will join other companies around the world that converge at the annual TechPlus events to showcase and learn how technology is evolving to meet the needs of a digital generation and modern business.”

The GoOnline Nigeria programme is delivered by an alliance of Programme Partners and SME Growth Drivers across the technology, Internet, payments, financial services, media and allied industries.

He said that at TechPlus 2017, GoOnline Nigeria will showcase its initiatives towards aggregating Nigerian SMEs to sustainably lead and unlock business innovation, efficiency, competitiveness and profitability in the Digital Age.

GoOnline Nigeria’s 360-degree programme is delivered through three key modules: Get Online, Grow Online and Succeed Online for SMEs across Nigeria to sell profitably on the Internet.

According to him, “SMEs are a very important component of the Nigerian economy and are regarded as engine of sustainable growth. SMEs also hold potentials to contribute higher proportion to GDP in Nigeria with targeted initiatives like GoOnline Nigeria to unlock potentials in the sector and build a stronger SME sector. Consistent commitment to the development of strong SMEs sector can be unlocked by implementing initiatives like access to finance and financial incentives; basic and technological infrastructure and a commitment to building domestic expertise and knowledge.”

Mr Busari said that 2017 is a good year to launch GoOnline Nigeria because of the prevailing policy and regulatory environment in the country that promotes Local Content Policy.

At TechPlus 2017, the 50 lucky SMEs will also benefit from workshops and other learning experiences as well as opportunities to network with event attendees representing leaders in industry, government and successful entrepreneurs.

According to the Programme Director of GoOnline Nigeria, “our vision is to provide 21st Century IT and business resources for Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMEs to lead business innovation, business competitiveness and profitability in the Digital Age. GoOnline Nigeria will be sustainable into the foreseeable future by evolving SMEs that will be agile, sustainable, efficient, innovative and profitable by embracing the Internet for business.”

Busari identified the key target demographics to benefit from the programme to include:

§ SMEs that have no Internet presence at all and wish to start selling their goods and services online;
§ SMEs that already have a website but are not recording online sales.
§ SMEs that sell online on third-party Marketplaces but do not have their own websites.
§ Market clusters across Nigeria with identified opportunities to embrace Internet to achieve business scale, operational efficiency and profitability.
§ Small businesses planning to open their own micro-enterprise or already run their own small business.
§ Entrepreneurs interested in business but may or may not be familiar with basic business concepts.
§ Entrepreneurs that use some technology in their business or for personal purposes but do not maximize the use of technology in managing their business.
§ Entrepreneurs interested in learning how Internet and ICT tools can help them run their business.
§ Entrepreneurs interested in brief, practical and relevant hands-on training on Internet for Business.
§ Entrepreneurs interested in learning, exchanging ideas and networking with other entrepreneurs.

Under the GoOnline Nigeria plan, participating SMEs will get affordable web presence bundling free Nigeria .ng Internet domain name, website, web hosting, telecoms starter kits for SMEs, e-commerce, CRM and other business management tools.

Stage Two on Grow Online will provide SMEs across Nigeria with 21st Century IT and business skills for entrepreneurs to lead business innovation, operational efficiency, business competitiveness and profitability in the Digital Age.

This phase of the programme will incorporate targeted training, workshops and seminars spread over a one year cycle of monthly learning experiences to offer partner SMEs the needed skills and competence to gain and retain customers by leveraging the Internet.

According to Mr Busari, “more importantly, this phase also enable partner SMEs and merchants to unlock value propositions available from GoOnline Programme Partners and SMEs Growth Drivers to grow their businesses.”

The third phase of GoOnline Nigeria will feature online and physical events for participating SMEs to showcase their products and services through business communities, Monthly Learning & Networking Experiences, Quarterly events and Annual Expos, according to Mr Busari.

“We are positive that GoOnline Nigeria will be the next wave for SMEs in Nigeria by creating a sustainable path to accelerate online revenue growth and profitability. The Programme will enable SMEs across Nigeria generate higher percentage of revenues from Internet storefronts to complement their physical storefronts”, Mr Busari added.

According to organisers, TechPlus 2017 will features Conferences, for leaders in industry, government and other technology leaders come together to share knowledge gained; Master classes, led by subject experts and are designed to give attendees practical guidance on a variety of key tech related topics and Exhibition where companies get to showcase their brand and products to a target audience of over 10,000 technology enthusiasts.

Other key highlights of TechPlus 2017 is the eSports, featuring the African Games Championship, where the best of African gamers will be unveiled at the event; Kidzone, a zone culled out for the kids with the primary aim of learning through play and Training, featuring training programmes are aimed at giving thousands of young learners and job seekers a short, sharp shot of digital marketing skills.

About GoOnline Nigeria
GoOnline Nigeria, a business growth programme for digital transformation of SMEs in Nigeria, is delivered by Programme Partners in the technology, Internet, payments, banking, education, media and other SME growth drivers.

GoOnline Nigeria
26, Omodara Street, Awuse Estate, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.
Official Website: www.goonline.ng
Email: info@goonline.ng
Contact: Mr Foluso Busari | Executive Director, Programmes, GoOnline Nigeria
Mobile Phone: +234 (0) 8074016074

This release was published on openPR.