Niger State is a region blessed with rich agricultural resources, abundant natural landscapes, and a strategic geographical location and it is steadily carving out a reputation as a significant economic hub in Nigeria. The state’s economy has traditionally been anchored on agriculture, but there is a growing emphasis on diversifying into other sectors such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), technology, and services. Recognizing the potential for economic growth and the importance of entrepreneurship, the current government has set a clear agenda aimed at fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable economy. This is government has shown through the creation of Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the State.
The Small Business Big Doings (SBBD), an initiative of Paritie Innovation Hub plays a crucial role in this economic vision. By providing a platform for small business owners to gain valuable insights, network, and develop practical skills, the SBBD initiative supports the state’s goal of creating a robust and sustainable business ecosystem. It’s workshops and masterclasses are not just events; they are a catalyst for economic transformation, empowering local entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and seize opportunities, ultimately contributing to the economic prosperity of Niger State.
The Small Business Big Doings (SBBD) 2.0 is the second part of the sequential workshop event which first took place on the 1st July 2024. The second edition of the workshop (SBBD 2.0) took place on the 18th of July 2024 at Paritie innovation Hub workspace.
The workshop brought together business owners, majorly from Minna, who are involved in various entrepreneurial activities in the state as participants. We also had speakers with experience in business, government, social media and content creation grace the workshop to encourage and give participants the opportunity to learn and gain insight on strategic ways to promote their business, access funding from government and surmount business challenges. The sessions handled by the speakers covered these topics:
- Leveraging Social Media for Lead Generation and Revenue Growth – Abubakar Buba (Creative Director of Paritie Studios)
- How to Access Funding from Government – Mr. Shehu Bawa Bwari (Coordintator of Entrepreneurship, Niger State Ministry for MSMEs)
- Challenges of Doing Business in Niger State and How to Overcome Them – Hajiya Rahma Salihu Ndaliman (Chief executive officer of Royal Events and Galleria Kids Plus).
Highlights of the workshop were question and answer sessions with speakers. Participants asked questions bordering on leveraging social media for business growth, challenges faced by business owners in Niger State and funding opportunities available for business owners to benefit from. There was also mood board activity where participants were paired into three groups and given a task to come up with a business idea and analyze the business using SWOT Analysis. The Mood Board activity was an avenue for participants to display teamwork, innovation and bond well.
There was also presentation of certificate to participants. The workshop came to an end after Syed Abdullahi, the Human Resource Manager for Paritie Innovation Hub, gave words of appreciation and urged the participants to register for the upcoming SBBD Masterclass which will hold from 2nd to 4th of September 2024. It was indeed a wonderful workshop for the participants, going by the feedback gotten from participants especially on social media.