The SMEFest2025 by Jasper SME Hub, held at the University of Lagos, brought together business owners, policymakers, and investors in a collective effort to boost Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Discussions emphasized the vital role SMEs play in driving economic growth, contributing over 50% of the GDP and 76% of private-sector employment. The Keynote speaker highlighted the need to diversify into sectors such as agriculture, technology, and manufacturing to reduce dependence on oil while leveraging technology to enhance global competitiveness.
The event introduced Jaspa an ERP solution aimed at simplifying operations for small businesses, offering tools for bookkeeping, inventory management, and customer relationship management, Founder and CEO Emmanuel Olujobi, stated that this service was built with the understanding of SME points and priorities. A business pitch session provided entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase innovative ideas, while tech startups benefited from support such as cloud credits and deployment guidance through partnerships with leading technology providers.
With SMEs driving 70% of Nigeria’s non-oil exports and fostering job creation, experts underscored the importance of building a robust SME ecosystem. Participants left with renewed optimism, ready to contribute towards the ambitious goal of a trillion-dollar SME economy by 2030.
