In its continued bid aimed at further mitigating Covid-19 impact on Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs), telecoms giant, MTN Nigeria has disclosed its readiness to collaborate with Cloud Technologies in providing necessary digital support to small business owners in Nigeria.
Cloud technology is an Internet bases service firm engaged in providing, on-demand computer system resources, data storage and computing power devices to small business organizations.
According the telecoms giant, the partnership is part of MTN’s response to against the effect of Covid – 19 pandemic on Nigeria’s economy. Making the disclosure recently was the Chief Enterprise Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Lynda Saint – Nwafor while addressing SME business stakeholders during a virtual Revv Program Masterclass event recently.
Speaking at the event which ran with the theme: Setting Up Your Business for Success: The Technology Advantage” Nwafor noted that SMEs are the bedrock of any economy, hence she said that there was need for stakeholders to align and find ways of closing the gaps that currently exist for SMEs by providing them support for their groth and development.
“We have the interest of SMEs at heart and whilst we do not provide all the services that are applicable, we are willing to partner with organisations that provide access to technology tools that are relevant to SMEs on a platform that makes it is easy for them to access at the right price.”
She added that there is a need for stakeholders to align and find ways to close the gaps that currently exist for SMEs by assisting them in their transformational journey from being digital migrants to becoming digital natives”, stressing that“this is what MTN is trying to achieve”.
The Revv Program is an initiative from MTN Nigeria to aid small businesses rethink and relearn their operations to enable them mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic using a four-pronged approach that includes masterclasses, access to market, productivity tools support and advisory initiatives.She therefore advised SME owners to leverage on available opportunities to be acquainted with technology “because every segment that will control a high percentage of consumption in the future must be online”.
Panelists at the virtual masterclass session included other business leaders such as Onyeka Akumah, Chief Executive Officer, Plentywaka and Farmcrowdy; Ibrahim Babalola, Chief Executive Officer, Clane; Austin Okere, Founder, CWG & Ausso Leadership Academy; Srinivas Rao, Chief Digital Officer, MTN.
The event was moderated by Ada Irikefe, Associate Director, PWC Nigeria. The program aims to reach at least 10,000 startups and small businesses. Nine sessions will be delivered by MTN executives and industry experts after which 200 will be selected to join MTN’s Y’ello 200 accelerator programme, giving them exclusive access to a broad range of technology-driven tools and services.
MTN Business seeks to be the reliable and dependable supplier of business communication solutions to the Nigeria enterprise market. Offering a suite of Voice, Internet, Data and Branch Connectivity Solutions, MTN Business currently serves a teeming number of corporate and public sector organisations as well as My Office across industry.
MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, Africa’s leading cellular telecommunications company. On May 16, 2001, MTN became the first GSM network to make a call following the globally lauded Nigerian GSM auction conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission earlier in the year.
Thereafter the company launched full commercial operations beginning with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The company subsists on the core brand values of leadership, relationship, integrity, innovation and ‘can-do’. It prides itself on its ability to make the impossible possible, connecting people with friends, family and opportunities.
In its resolve to enhance quality customer service, MTN Nigeria has also introduced a self-help toll-free 181 customer-care line through which subscribers can resolve their frequently asked questions free of charge.
MTN’s overriding mission is to be a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, helping to unleash Nigeria’s strong developmental potential not only through the provision of world class communications but also through innovative and sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives.
