These are the 15 Nigerian businesses chosen for Facebook’s first SME Council

Facebook has launched its first African Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Council in Nigeria. The council is made up of a combination 15 vibrant start-ups and established SMEs from a range of industries and locations across Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja and Enugu and Kano. The SME council members are

Paylater

DigitxPlus

Wakanow,

Afro Foods & Spice Nigeria

The Legit Way Out

EasyshopEasycook

Hush’D

One Stop Baby Shop Nigeria

Mamalette

Bombay to Beirut

GIGM.com

Naphtali Party Rentals

Ìkòkò

STM Magical Creations Ltd.

On why Nigeria was chosen as the first destination for the SME Council, Facebook’s SMB Sales Manager, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Abi Williams, pointed out Nigeria’s vibrant SME sector as their main reason for choosing the country as the first beneficiary.

“Small businesses form the backbone of most of the thriving economies in the world, driving sustainable growth and creating jobs, and those in Nigeria are no different. Facebook is strategically positioned to help SME’s grow their businesses, and with a vibrant SME sector, Nigeria was a natural choice in launching our very first SME Council on the African continent. With 35 million people in other countries connected to a Nigerian business on Facebook, the global market has never been closer for Nigerian SMEs,” Williams said.

The council is expected to foster a strategic partnership between Facebook Africa’s SME team and Nigerian business owners, in order to provide better digital tools for business and customer growth. In effect, the Council will work as a link or bridge between Facebook and Nigerian small businesses. The council will meet a minimum of twice a year with Facebook and Instagram teams to discuss successes and challenges, business ideas and solutions.

The Nigerian SME Council has now joined 10 other SME Councils across the globe, including North America, Ireland, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, India and Brazil