By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Correspondent Lagos

The speakers at the third edition of MSME Dialogue have reiterated the importance of powering businesses, whether big or small, with technology and digital transformation in order to guarantee growth.

MSME Dialogue, a quarterly event which took place on April 24, 2021 is organized by MSME Africa, a multi-faceted resource platform for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Africa providing capacity development, news, opportunities, business articles and other resources for MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and startups. The event seeks to seeks to address and proffer solutions to issues affecting Micro, Small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Speakers at the event, which had hundreds of owners and managers of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Business owners from different sector in attendance was held virtually. The speakers included CEO, FPG Technologies, Rex Mafiana, Global Head of Operational Excellence at Sokowatch, Kenya, Fatma Nasujo, CEO, FirstFounders, David Lanre Messan,  CEO/Co-founder, Kiakia FX Bisoye Coker and Group Business Head, Merchant Acquiring at Interswitch Group, Jeffrey Williams-Edem. The session was moderated by CEO/Founder, HerVest, Solape Akinpelu.

According to Bisoye Coker “Digitisation is the key to fixing several of the numerous challenges faced by businesses; embracing technology helps business owners to take smarter decisions by helping to collect, store and process data”.

In the words of Rex Mafiana “Technology is a behavior tracker and it can help MSMEs leverage minimal capital in very effective ways”. He also added “Purchase convenience and personalization are some of the advantages technology gives to business and at the heart of digital transformation is customer experience”.

While responding to a question, David Lanre Messan stated “Technology is an enabler; you don’t build a business solely on technology; you use technology to power and enable your ideas and innovations”.

Fatma Nasujo of Sokowatch, Kenya made a case for technology education in our schools, according to her ‘being intentional about technology education will help in innovation and technology adoption”.

Jefferey Williams-Edem believes that innovation must stick to continuous creativity and also advised MSMEs to start their technology journey by first identifying their sales objectives.

While commending the speakers for providing so much insights on the subject of discussion, the convener of MSME Dialogue, Seye Olurotimi, also expressed his appreciation to all attendees and the brands who supported the event – Accion Microfinance Bank and Quickteller Business.

The next edition of MSME Dialogue is expected to take place in July 2021.