TikTok and ICC Start Digital Commerce Labs in Nigeria

TikTok and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have started the Digital Commerce Labs. This initiative aims to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) build a strong online presence, reach more customers, and grow in the digital economy.

The launch took place in Lagos on Thursday. It has support from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). The event gathered small business owners, entrepreneurs, digital content creators, business groups, and government representatives.

The program will offer training in digital marketing, content creation, audience engagement, online sales, artificial intelligence tools, and cross-border commerce.

At the event, Tokunbo Ibrahim, who is the acting head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, said the partnership with ICC will help Nigerian entrepreneurs grow and compete internationally.

"The world has gone digital. We need Nigerian entrepreneurs to be able to play on a level playing field with entrepreneurs from across the world.

"We want to empower SMBs so that they aren’t just marketing or selling to their community, but they also get to a point where their business has grown enough to export their goods and services as well," she stated.

Digital commerce

Ms Ibrahim explained that digital commerce is changing how businesses grow in Sub-Saharan Africa. She added that Nigerian entrepreneurs are at the center of this change.

"Through our partnership with ICC, we are committed to making sure that the benefits of that transformation reach every small business owner in this region," she said.

Charly Gordon, innovation lead at the ICC, also spoke about the partnership. He said the organization uses its global network of chambers to build the program's curriculum.

"We have hundreds, if not thousands, of chambers across the globe which enable us to not only reach the SME community but also have a very detailed understanding of their day-to-day challenges and ambitions.

"But when it comes to international trade, it’s ICC experts who come together to craft a module and lessons that will help SMEs go international," he mentioned.

NITDA stated that this initiative aligns with its goal of improving digital skills and helping Nigerian entrepreneurs use digital tools for business growth.

Remarks

Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, commented on the initiative. He said platforms like TikTok have grown beyond just entertainment and have become key tools for economic growth.

"They are now powerful engines for economic growth, enabling small businesses to reach new audiences, tell their unique stories, and scale rapidly. We highly commend TikTok’s commitment to supporting our local ecosystem through this small business event," he said.

The LSETF also plans to support the program. They will provide training in financial literacy, business setup, bookkeeping, taxation, and legal advice. Businesses that finish the program may also apply for small-business loans through LSETF.

This program comes at a time when more Nigerian businesses are using social media to sell products and reach customers. ResearchAndMarkets expects Nigeria’s social commerce market to hit $2.04 billion in 2025 and nearly $4 billion by 2030. A survey by GSMA found that 56 percent of Nigerian businesses sell online only through social media, while another 19 percent combine social media with a website or marketplace.

When asked how the ICC will measure the program’s success, Gordon explained that the organization will use analytics to track the progress of registered businesses.

"The online training modules will be live in July. So the hundreds of SMEs that have pre-registered will be in a live session. And we want to make sure they use the training material in a way that increases their business impact.

"We want it to be adapted to the SME regardless of its journey in digital commerce. So we’ll be tracking all of that by various types of analytics," he added.