TikTok, ICC Set to Boost Nigerian SMEs with Digital Commerce Labs

 

TikTok and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), organised the inaugural Digital Commerce Labs (DCL) community event in Lagos, designed to support Nigeria’s social commerce market projected to reach $2.04 billion in 2025 and expand to nearly $4 billion by 2030.

The event brought together entrepreneurs, creators, industry leaders, policymakers, including small and medium enterprise (SME) owners to explore how digital commerce could drive business growth and economic opportunity in Nigeria.

With the initiative, TikTok and ICC will train thousands of small businesses in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa in digital commerce skills, delivered both online and offline. The partnership reflects TikTok’s commitment to the region’s economic priorities and its ambition to work alongside globally recognised institutions like ICC to place the growth of local businesses at the centre of the digital economy.

Sharing insights on how Nigerian small businesses can harness the power of digital to grow, scale and build lasting impact, Acting Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, Tokunbo Ibrahim, said: “Digital commerce is reshaping how businesses grow across sub-Saharan Africa, and Nigerian entrepreneurs are at the heart of that shift. 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. The world has gone digital, we need Nigerian entrepreneurs to be able to deliver on a level playing field with entrepreneurs from across the world. So we want to empower SMEs so that they aren’t just marketing or selling to their community, but to also get to a point where they can export their goods and services as well. The initiative is about empowering SMEs to unlock business growth.”

ICC Deputy Secretary General, Julian Kassum, said: “Digital commerce is a powerful engine for inclusive growth. By equipping small businesses with the tools and skills they need to participate in the digital economy, we are opening new pathways for entrepreneurship, trade and job creation. With the Digital Commerce Labs, ICC is committed to ensuring that small businesses in Nigeria can fully seize these opportunities and grow beyond their local markets.”

Head, Innovation Lab at ICC, Charly Gordon, said the training would guide small businesses in Nigeria on their business journey, particularly when it comes to trading internationally.

“The training will be very practical and not theoretical. We want it to be tailored to the market, and we want it to be adapted to the SME regardless of its journey in digital commerce,” Gordon said.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said: “TikTok has evolved beyond entertainment; they are now powerful engines for economic growth, enabling small businesses to reach new audiences, tell their unique stories, and scale rapidly. By bridging the gap between creativity and digital commerce, we are collectively fostering innovation and building a more inclusive, digitally empowered Nigeria.”

Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has joined the Digital Commerce Labs to provide critical operational support for small businesses. Following completion of the training programme, market-ready small businesses will directly enter into LSETF’s financial ecosystem, with an opportunity to directly access SME funding.

Highlight of the event, was a fireside chat on Creator Economy Spotlight, in which three successful entrepreneurs and content creators from Nigeria shared accounts of how they built their businesses using platforms like TikTok.