number of stakeholders across various sectors, yesterday, converged on the Vanguard Media Limited Conference Room, in a roundtable session, calling on the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for “Tech Villages” in various parts of the country to promote e-commerce to the advantage of work-age mothers.
Speaking at the event titled Women, e-Commerce and the Work/life balance, participants described a “Tech Village” as an environment or a community where an office space is provided with internet structures and relevant equipment that enable people get online training facilities.
The participants are of the opinion that in a tech village, people are not told what to do but rather they are provided with enablement and support facilities like trainer, young people with interest and relevant background coming into that environment.
Michael Umogun, a market researcher explains further. “Here, structures are put in place, for example they are given office, internet plug-in and charges made at a very small amount for people to come in and talk to like minds on issues; exchanging ideas about new products and apps.
He pointed out that the most important thing is that they are provided with the facilities and environment, cheap and subsidized accommodation, cheap equipment and the youth and interested persons are left to handle the rest.
The participants include: Mrs. Yinka Ogboja, CEO, Opeke International Venture; Mrs. Ibironke Ojesebholo, Producer, Crown Media Productions Limited; Mrs. Morin Obaweya, Creative Director, Morin O. Leatherworks; Mr. Ehizojie Ojesebholo, CEO, Director (Film maker) Ceroms Media Productions Limited; Mrs. Murna Danmadami, Jasikadee Konsults; Mr. Kola Alapinni, Business & Human Rights Attorneys.
Others are Miss Ezeji Adaora, Offero Nigeria Limited; Mr. Michael Umogun, Millward Brown Nigeria and Mr. Agbolade Omowole, Marcot Information and Technology Solutions.
Umogun said, “We should not allow miracle to happen in e-commerce when we have not done the needful. We are what is referred to by the rest of the world as a default player in global e-commerce, that means we are a peripheral player because there is no way Nigeria would be an active player in e-commerce when we don’t have relevant structures in place.
“What we have currently are book-based policies by government that have not been implemented; the engine, systems, equipment that is supposed to back e-commerce in the country are not resident in Nigeria. If we don’t embark on a concerted effort of policy to put appropriate systems and structure and equipment in place, then our e-commerce is definitely going to be struggling.
In addition, the participants said that there is a need to do mass education by creating awareness and getting women engaged in e-commerce.
“To enable integration happen properly, we really need to use all possible platforms to explain to people how these things work. The whole platform of e-commerce is elitist, most of our people are outside this system and except we have structures in place we cannot move anywhere.”
In continuation, they frowned at the fact that it is only the educated women who are making use of e-commerce, stating that the only way to go is by creating awareness which is another important aspect because most of the women are lagging behind in terms of e-commerce.
“Women can do so much from home and earn their pay and still maintain their regular jobs, it is a common thing for mummies in Sweden to work from home and still earn their pay. It is not just about social media but how we can integrate technology to create better lives for women,” they said.
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