By Chidinma Amaechi
In a bid to boost technological development in Imo State and the nation at large, a giant in the Hi-tech industry and a son of the soil has through his tech company, E.F. Network limited, launched an e- commerce directory aimed at providing a robust platform for small businesses to attract customers and foster economic development using Information Communication Technology, ICT, with a focus on Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise MSMEs.
E.F. Network limited is a multinational conglomerate and a global key player in technology for over 2 decades. Since the inception of the firm in Nigeria in 1995, the firm which has been known for its consistency in breakthrough technology and has been giving birth to different technological products and services. This company is one of the creative innovations by Mr. Gideon Egbuchulam; a high-achieving Imolite, who has excelled greatly in the Hi-tech sector, waste management and contributed immensely in the nation’s growth.
To many Imolites this high achieving Imolite is known for his silent philanthropic activities to the poor, missionaries and in the Clean & Green initiative in Imo state. This unassuming kind man who hardly grants press interviews or seen often in the public, is reserved and focused on his activities. He is making Imo state proud by constantly putting Imo state name in the public domain, as a technology hub of Nigeria.
Few months back when he hosted the new Nigeria Ambassadors from South-East and South-South of Nigeria at his Abuja office, he hinted to them his desire to make Imo state the next Silicon Valley of West Africa. Indeed this man is a gift to Imo state. He also expressed his passion to assist the less privileged, at minimum, to afford three square meals per day and carter for themselves through job creation.
According to a statement made available to Newsmen, the Chairman, Mr. Gideon Egbuchulam stated that the target of the e-commerce directory are mainly for the artisans, low income earners and individuals in Nigeria that are aligned with the micro small and medium enterprise MSMEs. These are one of the most neglected markets in Nigeria, who cannot afford to advertise their products and services on televisions, radios and newspapers. Now they have a platform to be seen by Nigerians and the world. Our platform is for the neglected business people to have a voice in Nigeria economy and showcase their products and services.
According to the seasoned administrator, any business in the state can showcase all its products and services, address, phone, and email. He hinted that the firm doesn’t collect any payment from sales, services, ship products, or do delivery of any kind or take any percentage of users profit adding that the platform is solely to attract customers and connect people for business handshake without his firm involving in logistics and parley between buyers and sellers.
Egbuchulam also seized the platform to reel out some achievements, products and innovations of his firm in the past six months geared towards providing solutions to societal challenges like unemployment and insecurity. In his words, “first was EF phonetaxi, licensed by NCC to deploy internet services in Nigeria and now is e-commerce directory(www.efcontact.com) which gives every registered business in Imo state and beyond a mini website to showcase all their products and services. With efcontact.com, there is no need for MSMEs to waste money buying domain names in dollars, paying webmaster to construct their websites and advertise their products and services on very expensive televisions, radios and newspapers. It is actually targeted at low income earners. All the products and services of registered businesses can be displayed on efcontact platform.”
The CEO also made it clear that the company is not involved in the transaction between the two parties. He said that the new e-commerce directory has come to change the way Nigerians shop, find service providers, services, artisans, products, sellers, and get access to contacts.
Throwing more light, the Technical Director of E.F. Network, Mr. Ebenezer Ikeri said that users are required to register in order for them to access the platform, “once a user downloads the app on his or her phone or use a computer to access the platform, all registered users and services are available to that person, when a person registers he or she gets a dashboard display where all his/her business information can be found. To start using E.F. contact, registration is required at www.efcontact.com and you are ready to start receiving customers,” he said.
