🎙️ What an incredible journey it was with Prof. Olu Ajakaiye on the Fidelity SME Forum! 🚀 We explored "Business Opportunities in a Challenging Economy: Turning Adversity into Advantage" and gained invaluable insights.

👤In this insightful interview, Prof. Ajakaiye, a Fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society, shared his wealth of knowledge and experience in navigating challenging economic landscapes. 📚

🌟 Key Takeaways:
- We uncovered strategies for thriving in tough economic times.
- The importance of innovation and adaptability in business became evident.
- Prof. Ajakaiye shed light on the opportunities that often emerge amidst adversity.
- Our audience had the privilege of learning from a distinguished economist with an impressive career.

If you missed the live broadcast, don't worry! You can catch the full interview and gain these valuable insights on our SoundCloud channel. 🎧

Be sure to share it with your friends and colleagues. Together, let's embrace challenges as stepping-stones to success in today's dynamic business world. 🌱💼

Business Opportunities in a Challenging Economy: Turning Adversity Into Advantage

Embark on a captivating journey into the world of entrepreneurship with Uche Aniche, a distinguished tech and business innovation leader, Angel Investor, and Fund Manager. In this insightful episode titled "Empowering Entrepreneurs in Nigeria: The #StartupSouth Initiative," Uche shares his wealth of experience accumulated over two decades.

Discover how Uche addresses the challenges faced by Nigerian entrepreneurs, ranging from limited access to quality education and mentorship to the hurdles of securing funding. Gain valuable insights into the transformative power of the #StartupSouth Initiative in overcoming these obstacles and fostering a supportive startup community.

Uche Aniche, the CEO of Havilah & Hills Innovative Systems Limited, is the visionary behind #StartupSouth—a dynamic community inspiring innovation in Nigeria's South-South/South-East regions. As a dedicated advocate for the startup ecosystem, Uche has played a pivotal role in facilitating millions of dollars in funding for founders across Nigeria.

Key insights await you as Uche discusses overcoming entrepreneurial hurdles, the impact of education, mentorship, and funding, and the importance of fostering a supportive startup community. This recording is your gateway to entrepreneurial wisdom.

Don't miss out—press play and immerse yourself in this enriching conversation with Uche Aniche. If you missed the live broadcast, catch the rebroadcast on Thursday, October 19th, 2023, at 6:30 PM.

Your journey to entrepreneurial success begins here. 🚀

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Nigeria: The #StartupSouth Initiative

"🎙️ Did you catch the buzz on our latest Fidelity SME Forum episode? We were thrilled to host Raymond Umeh, a true pioneer in revolutionizing the furniture industry! 🪑✨

🪑✨ Dive into the revolution of the furniture industry as our guest, Raymond Umeh, seasoned professional with over 18 years of experience, unveils the secrets behind melding aesthetics with eco-consciousness. 🌐🛋️

Tap here to listen and get inspired! 📻🎉 Don't miss out on this Furniture Revolution! 🔄🗓️ #FurnitureRevolution #SMEForum #InspirationFM"

Revolutionizing the Furniture Industry

In this insightful episode of the Fidelity SME Forum, we are honored to feature Dr. Olori Boye-Ajayi, a visionary leader and catalyst for change in Africa's trade transformation and women's empowerment. With nearly 15 years of experience in trade and investment, women empowerment, and sustainable development, Dr. Olori shares her profound knowledge and strategic insights on empowering women entrepreneurs across the continent.

Dr. Olori Boye-Ajayi is a distinguished member of the AfCFTA Trade and Industrial Development Advisory Council, a board member for Made in Nigeria Commodities Export, and an esteemed student at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Her impactful work has successfully secured over $1,000,000 in funding and trade finance for women in the export community, facilitating exports to Australia, the U.S., and the United Kingdom.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Olori discusses effective strategies for inclusive growth, drawing from her extensive experience and accomplishments, including recognition at the African Achievers Award and her role as the first female Afreximbank MANSA Ambassador in Nigeria. Her contributions to women's empowerment and trade development have earned her accolades such as the Top 100 Inspiring Women in Africa Award by Leading Ladies Africa.

Click here to learn from Dr. Olori Boye-Ajayi’s journey and gain valuable insights on fostering a thriving ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Strategies for Inclusive Growth

In this episode of the Fidelity SME Forum, we are honored to have Dr. Rebecca Oluwayemisi Adeyeye, co-founder and managing director of Lifefount Hospital, a leading institution in cancer care, surgery, and endoscopy. Dr. Adeyeye also co-founded the Lifefount Foundation, where she significantly impacts her community through initiatives in entrepreneurship, healthcare, and women’s economic advancement. Join us as she shares her invaluable insights on "Building a Thriving Healthcare Business in Nigeria," discussing strategies, challenges, and the future of healthcare in the country.

Building a Thriving Healthcare Business in Nigeria

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in global trade, contributing significantly to economic growth, innovation, and employment. SMEs however often face challenges with meeting up to safety and regulatory standards required for exporting goods. 

Some of these challenges include complex regulations, unreliable distribution networks, limited manpower and rapidly changing standards.  

Are you interested in learning tips on surmounting these challenges? Then click to listen as Yvonne Ezekiel discusses, "Trade Inefficiencies and SME Compliance with Safety and Regulatory Standards for Export".  

Yvonne Ezekiel is the Managing Partner at Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) where she oversees strategic direction, operational management, and business growth. As the leader of the International Trade Practice group, she specializes in trade control, sanctions, export regulations, and compliance, advising on governmental enforcement and political-commercial dynamics.  

Her corporate tenure spans roles at multinational firms like British American Tobacco and Diageo where she was focused on business management, HR, compliance, and governance responsibilities. She is also credited with elevating OAL into a leading law firm with robust business and personnel frameworks by applying her expertise in Business Process Re-engineering.

Trade Inefficiencies and SME Compliance with Safety and Regulatory Standards for Export

This week, we explored the exciting intersection of legal technology and emerging innovations in driving the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Legal tech simplifies access to essential services by automating contracts, providing affordable online dispute resolution, and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. This transformation significantly reduces the complexity and cost of traditional legal processes, enabling SMEs to focus on scaling their businesses.

Meet Our Guest:
Endurance Agbor is a specialized lawyer with expertise in Energy & Natural Resources, Information Technology, Private Equity, and Infrastructure & Construction Projects. Currently working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), he plays a pivotal role in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, overseeing NNPC’s reorganization, and ensuring robust corporate governance.

He is also the founder of Eagle Venture Capital (EVC), investing in venture capital funds that support promising startups like Moniepoint and Wave. Furthermore, Endurance established Xavier Paisley Limited (XP), a holding company with subsidiaries in technology, hospitality, and real estate, and developed innovative products like LAWYERPP and FuelPlug.

With a First-Class Law degree from the University of Calabar, where he also teaches Oil & Gas Law pro bono, Endurance is an active member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators and enjoys creative writing in his spare time.

New tracks tagged #SMEForum