DFID, GEMS4 support Made-in-Nigeria goods

United Kingdom Department For International Development (UK DFID) has funded the Growth and Employment in States, GEMS4 to partner with MIN Global Consulting Services Limited (MIN) initiative.

The aim is to create alternative markets for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) operators through e–commerce. Historically, made-in-Nigeria goods have been perceived to be of poor quality due to sub-standard packaging and lack of branding, but a lot has changed in recent times and standards are rapidly improving.

In order to scale the supply and demand for products by Nigerians, MIN Global Consulting Services Limited (MIN), an online marketplace service provider, is currently working to create a network of e-commerce traders of Made in Nigeria Goods.

GEMS4 and MIN have found that there is no dearth of quality Nigerian made products and  therefore hosted an MSME Summit in Lagos State, with the theme “Business growth and accessing new markets through e-Commerce opportunity ”

The event which held this September at NECA auditorium hall, NECA house, Alausa, Lagos aimed to support low/middle income SME operators, especially those run by women, with the marketing and promotion of their products. The e-commerce platform is expected to link small producers to medium-sized buyers, relevant business networks as well as individual stakeholders; thus increasing the demand for the products; increasing sales/income and creating more opportunities for women producers.

There was an exhibition for producers of made in Nigeria products such as household utensils, packaged food items, clothes, cleaning products, handbags, beads and jewelleries.

Aisha Bako, Aisha Lawal and Micah Mendie of MIN and GEMS4 facilitated the event. “We want to use this platform to encourage made in Nigeria products as well as give them a space and voice in the global market.    It is an opportunity to prove that our products can compete perfectly anywhere in the world, most of the people you see here just need a little push and that is what we represent.”

During the summit, MSMEs (participants) were informed of benefits and opportunities the women and e-commerce initiative will deliver to women.

They also had the opportunity to register as vendors on the MIN platform.

OLUYINKA ALAWODE