Ayoba, Africa’s all-in-one app for communication, entertainment, and e-commerce, has joined forces with Adanian Labs to introduce an SME Accelerator program aimed at empowering and accelerating the growth of small businesses in Nigeria.
The program also aims to address the challenges faced by Nigerian SMEs and provide them with essential resources to thrive in the digital age. Ayoba’s Head of Ecosystem Development, Sheila Yabo, emphasized the significant potential impact of empowering Nigerian SMEs thus:
“The potential impact of empowering Nigerian SMEs is significant. By improving this sector, the country can see faster economic growth, more job possibilities, and better global competitiveness. Furthermore, assisting small enterprises encourages entrepreneurship, stimulates innovation, and adds to wealth creation, ultimately enhancing Nigeria’s general socioeconomic environment.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Adanian Labs to launch the SME Accelerator Programme, a critical initiative that will empower Nigerian small businesses,” Yabo added. “Through this collaboration, we hope to unlock the potential of Nigerian SMEs, resulting in economic prosperity and opportunities for long-term development.”
The SME Accelerator Program seeks to tackle major obstacles encountered by small businesses, including limited access to funding, technical infrastructure, market reach, and mentorship. By promoting innovation, boosting competitiveness, driving growth, and creating long-term job prospects, the program aims to transform the SME landscape in Nigeria.
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Ayoba-Adanian Labs partnership
The collaboration between Ayoba and Adanian Labs combines Ayoba’s all-in-one app, which offers messaging services, hyperlocal content, games, music, and e-commerce, with Adanian Labs’ expertise in technology solutions and ecosystem growth. This partnership aims to leverage these capabilities to provide Nigerian businesses with crucial resources such as digitalization, mentorship, network access, technological support, and partner mobilization for funding, enabling them to overcome barriers and achieve sustainable growth.
Killian Mayua, Country Manager for Adanian Labs, Nigeria, expressed enthusiasm with the collaboration with Ayoba and the SME Accelerator program, emphasizing its promise for Nigerian small businesses. Adanian Labs firmly believes that Africa will reach its full potential once its SME sector undergoes transformation. By supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises, the program will enhance economic resilience and contribute to the overall development of this vital sector.
With small and medium-sized firms accounting for more than 90% of African businesses, employing approximately 50% of the workforce and contributing to 33% of the continent’s GDP, the importance of SMEs cannot be overstated. In Nigeria alone, SMEs constitute over 96% of all enterprises, serving as engines of innovation and economic success while providing employment to millions of people.
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The SME Accelerator Program, set to officially commence on Monday, July 10th, aims to equip Nigerian small businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. The program will offer targeted mentorship, access to finance options, and technological resources. Interested firms have a two-week window to submit their applications before the top 20 participants are announced. Adanian Labs will accept applications through their website.
The partnership between Ayoba and Adanian Labs, through the launch of the SME Accelerator program, marks a significant milestone in fostering innovation, driving entrepreneurship, and contributing to economic empowerment. It positions Nigeria as a hub for SME growth and development, paving the way for a thriving and resilient business landscape.
About Adanian Labs
Adanian Labs was founded to provide Technology solutions for Africa’s key growing sectors that are driven by SME industries. In the last 3 years since their inception in January 2020 they have built technologies to power key sectors including Health, Agriculture, Financial Services, Media and others. Their products have been used and tested by key industry stakeholders including powering some of the most innovative fast growing startups in the continent, building technology capacity to ensure that we have a flowing pipeline of talent and solutions for the growing Africa digital transformation.
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