KEY POINTS

• The SSE Lab to tackle some of the challenges confronting MSME as it concerns SMEs in Nigeria.
• Desola Jimmy-Eboma, founder, shares story to encourage entrepreneurs.
• It gives tools, mentorship and also resources to help scale your businesses at a local and international level.

Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) encounter a number of challenges, ranging from branding/ packaging and the complexity of distribution channels.

As a response, business development strategist Desola Jimmy Eboma has created an initiative whose objectives are to mentor, provide tools, resources to small scale enterprises and resource MSMEs towards their growth.

Sustainability and scale empowering MSMEs

Speaking at the launch event themed “From Vision to Venture: The mission of the lab, Jimmy Eboma says, is to lift the local industries through equipping entrepreneurs with practical skills and strategies to scale their businesses.

‘When I began my business four years ago, that’s exactly what I was facing – small-scale manufacturers experience branding and distribution challenges just as any other small organisation,’ he further said.

I scaled my operations across Nigeria, the U.S., Canada and the U.K. in just nine months, using my background in business development,” she said.

Local industries transforming

Highlighting the role of the lab, Jimmy-Eboma pointed to the showcase of the potential of local industries as well as turning innovative ideas to viable products. And as much as we can make local materials into world class products.

“This lab is about sharing knowledge, promoting innovation and you know, showing the world, what Nigerian entrepreneurs can do,” she said.

A vision for growth

The SSE Lab hopes to become a seedbed for entrepreneurs to gain glimpse [sic] into world innovations. And also tap into common resources from a competitive viewed angle to resolve their own operational hurdle.

To foster sustainable growth of MSMEs and complement Nigeria’s development through collaboration, mentorship and innovation, the lab further provides companies with technologies, infrastructure and expertise that can lead to market evolution.