The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has urged micro, medium, and small-scale enterprises to adopt e-commerce, emphasizing the shift of businesses towards online platforms.
This advice was conveyed during a one-day sensitization workshop organized by the Awka office of the Council, focusing on exploring the potential of e-commerce.
The Coordinator of the NEPC office in Awka, Mr Ndubueze Okeke, a deputy director, who presented an address, said: “We are mindful of the importance of digital trade in today’s global economy, which is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope.
“We provided this platform, where youths and other SMEs could share their experiences and interact with one another.
“The benefits of e-commerce presents to SMEs is such that even from the comfort of your home or office, deals running into millions are closed, using your mobile phone or laptops.”
Okeke told participants that the good thing about e-commerce is that operations and sales are not defined by bricks and mortars, but defy boundaries and time.
A former Registrar of Tansian and Hezekiah Universities, Dr. Peter Okey Ejikeme, also presented a paper on ‘Enlightenment on the application of e-commerce in export business for Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises’.
He gave practical advice on how to explore opportunities in e-commerce, calling on participants to leverage the internet to make money through e-commerce, rather than spending data endlessly, watching movies.
“Businesses are rapidly going online and even private universities are turning into online universities. You are not inhibited by who you accept to admit or boundaries about where they are. E-commerce saves cost, increases efficiency, meets needs of customers, and is easy to operate.”
He listed the benefits of e-commerce including international marketplace, operational cost saving, mass customization, and elimination of time constraints, among others.
Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Christian Udechukwu, who also attended the programme, said the Chukwuma Soludo administration is working to train a generation of digitally savvy youths, who will benefit from the global e-commerce market.
