The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Recovery (SABER) programme has highlighted its efforts to support business owners and improve the business environment, as stakeholders explored new opportunities for businesses in Adamawa State through digital trade and artificial intelligence.
The engagement, held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Yola, brought together business owners and representatives of the SABER team to discuss ways of strengthening local enterprises and connecting them to wider markets.
Speaking at the event, Dr Bello Abubakar, Head of the SABER team, discussed the programme’s achievements, its progress and the support it has provided to business owners. He highlighted the importance of initiatives that empower entrepreneurs, strengthen businesses and create opportunities for economic growth.
He also spoke about the progress recorded by SABER and its continued efforts to improve the conditions under which businesses operate.
The Director-General of PAWCA, in his remarks, encouraged business owners to remain committed to their businesses, stressing the important role enterprises play in everyday life and the development of society.
He noted that businesses are essential to daily activities, economic growth, job creation and the provision of goods and services. He urged entrepreneurs not to give up but to continue improving and expanding their ventures.
In his presentation, Dr Hammanjam Ahmed According to him, the Governor’s commitment to digital development provides an important foundation for initiatives such as ATEX, which depend on digital connectivity, access to information and the ability of businesses to engage with wider markets.He Also introduced ATEX AI, describing it as an artificial intelligence assistant designed to support sellers and business owners in developing their businesses and accessing wider markets.
He explained that ATEX AI could help entrepreneurs turn raw materials into marketable product ideas, identify suppliers through verifiable sources, request quotations and compare offers.
He further explained that the platform could assist businesses with export research by providing information on market requirements from official sources, including tariffs and Harmonised System codes.
According to him, ATEX AI can also help business owners prepare professional product listings in three languages and calculate product pricing and landed costs, while ensuring that nothing is published without the business owner’s approval.
Dr Hammanjam stressed the importance of artificial intelligence and internet access in modern business, noting that technology could help entrepreneurs identify suppliers, research markets, advertise their products, compare prices and reach customers beyond their immediate locations.
He also explained how businesses could sell through ATEX by registering, listing their products, submitting quotations, providing necessary documentation and receiving payments through an escrow arrangement.
On the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, he said the agreement provides access to a market of approximately 1.3 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product of about 3.4 trillion dollars.
He noted that businesses in Adamawa could benefit from opportunities to trade across African markets, including reduced tariffs for goods that meet the relevant requirements.
On payments, he explained that buyers could pay in their local currencies while sellers receive their money in naira through the platform’s payment arrangements.
He further highlighted the role of ATEX, Customs and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, PAPSS, in facilitating cross-border trade and simplifying access to regional markets.
Dr Hammanjam said the next step was to encourage local businesses to become export-ready, while ATEX continues to develop its platform and payment support.
The engagement highlighted the growing importance of digital technology, artificial intelligence and regional trade in creating opportunities for businesses in Adamawa State and improving their access to wider markets.
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