TikTok and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have partnered to launch the Digital Commerce Labs, a global initiative designed to support small businesses and strengthen economic growth in Nigeria.
The initiative was announced in a joint statement signed by Tokunbo Ibrahim, Acting Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub Saharan Africa at TikTok, and John Denton, Secretary General of the ICC.
According to the statement, the programme is supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.It said the partnerships would provide entrepreneurs with digital skills, tools and resources to expand market access, boost revenue and build resilience.
According to the statement, it would leverage TikTok’s digital commerce capabilities alongside ICC’s expertise in international trade and its network of business chambers to deliver training, mentorship and scalable learning models for local enterprises. The organisers said that the initiative would be implemented through community engagement sessions, self paced online training modules and virtual classrooms where participants can interact with industry experts.It said that the programme was expected to foster peer learning, enhance digital knowledge and support the development of sustainable digital commerce ecosystems in Nigeria and other participating markets.Speaking on the initiative, Denton said the partnership would help create a more inclusive and accessible global economy by equipping small businesses with practical tools and knowledge to thrive in the digital age.
Also, Ibrahim said the collaboration would enable entrepreneurs to move beyond visibility to sustainable growth by leveraging digital platforms effectively.The statement added that the Digital Commerce Labs was expected to roll out across 10 countries, including Nigeria, with expansion planned across Africa and other regions later in the year.
It encouraged small business owners in Nigeria to register for the programme to benefit from the training and opportunities it offered. NANWeeks ahead of rollout, stakeholders said the Digital Commerce Labs would serve as a bridge between technology platforms and traditional small enterprises, helping more Nigerian entrepreneurs access international markets, improve digital literacy and adopt modern e commerce strategies. The organisers also emphasised that participation would remain free and open to eligible small businesses across sectors, with priority given to youth led ventures and women owned enterprises. They added that monitoring and evaluation frameworks would be used to track progress, measure impact and ensure long term sustainability of outcomes across participating countries across partner markets region.
