Ecobank Nigeria has announced plans to drive international growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating in its annual ‘Oja Oge’ marketplace. The initiative, now in its second year, aims to elevate local businesses to global prominence.
Omoboye Odu, the Head of SME and Partnership at Ecobank Nigeria, shared these details during a press conference on Friday and also on the opening day of the fashion marketplace.
Oja Oge by Ecobank Pop-Up Marketplace is a three-day fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle exhibition. Scheduled for April 18 to 20, 2025, the event will highlight leading brands such as Adidas, House of Tara, Winston Leather, Ava and George Children’s Clothing, Chenche Clothing, and Lush Hair, among others.
Odu, who characterized Ecobank Nigeria as the SME-solution bank, said the platform serves creatives in the fashion space, be it apparel, lingerie, jewelry, accessories, and beyond. We give them a platform to connect to a broader audience.
She said, It is important for these SMEs to succeed because when they succeed, we succeed. So our solution is to get that local SME to a global level, to a global impact, and then change our narrative as a country.
In addition to offering SMEs a platform to sell their goods, Odu emphasized the bank’s commitment to implementing frameworks that safeguard long-term business sustainability.
What we’re doing is teaching them to separate business from self. Teach them to put in the right governance structures. We have made all of them set up separate accounts for the business and themselves. So they separate the two entities. Then we can actually measure how the business is doing,” she stated, adding that a conscious effort was made at this year’s ‘Oja Oge’ to focus on showcasing ethnic designs and local artistry.
Head of Corporate Communication, Ecobank, Austen Asokpor, stated that the SMEs at the marketplace enjoy the benefits of the exhibition all year round.
“Those SMEs you see here, they are getting calls from everywhere. The after-sales are usually even greater than the sales at the exhibition, and that’s a good thing for them. We are encouraging them to come, and let’s make them into an international brand.
Asokpor also stated that the bank has what they call the Single Market Trade Hub, where businesses across the continent can connect and reach more customers.”
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