Nigeria: CWG bags commercial service award
September 19, 2008 by ella
Computer Warehouse Group, was presented with an award in recognition of her participation in the International Buyer Programme and volume imports from the United States at a ceremony at the Muson Centre on September 8, 2008.
Presenting the award to Austin Okere, group CEO of Computer Warehouse, Mr. Larry Farris, commercial counsellor of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria noted that Computer Warehouse has been a consistent business partner of major U.S. companies such as Dell, Sun Microsystems, IBM, Hughes, Harris-Stratex, Microsoft and Oracle, with trade volume in excess of $38 million between 2006 and 2008.
Responding, Okere thanked the U.S. Commercial Service for the award and for the recognition of the efforts of the Computer Warehouse Group. He dedicated the award to the company’s cherished customers, who made it possible through their loyalty and patronage, and also the U.S. partner companies, whose products have a compelling appeal due to their high quality.
He commended the U.S Embassy for pioneering trade enlightenment programs such as the annual CTO for Technology companies and also organising trade missions to the U.S. to enhance trade partnerships between the two countries.
Mr. Shina Badaru, publisher of the Technology Times, and compere at the event traced the rise of the Computer Warehouse Group from their humble beginnings 15 years ago from one building in Surulere, Lagos, to a strong IT brand with over eight offices in Nigeria and one in Ghana, employing over 400 people, with yearly sales in excess of $60m.
He commended the leadership of the company for the laudable achievement and the encouragement it provides to other start-ups.
Mr. Anayo Agu, senior commercial specialist of the U.S. Embassy emphasised the need for the celebration of trade successes between Nigeria and the United States to encourage stronger partnerships between entrepreneurs of both countries.
In his remarks, he stressed, the role of the U.S. Commercial section in promoting genuine businesses in Nigeria, and facilitating trade partnerships with counterpart U.S. businesses though the organisation of trade shows in both countries and the provision of referrals on companies registered with the U.S commercial Service in Nigeria.
He urged more Nigerian companies to register and report their trade progress with U.S companies to correct the erroneous notion that Nigeria was not a desired destination for Foreign Investments and that there was a lack of ethics and governance in the business environment.
The Nigeria-U.S. Association (NUSA) was set up by the Commercial Service of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to promote trade and investments between Nigerian and U.S. companies. She so far has over 3,500 registered Nigerian business members.
Other U.S. Trade and Investment services very active in Nigeria are the U.S. Export Import Bank, offering trade and project finance and credit guarantees in support of exports of US capital goods, the U.S Trade Development Agency (USTDA), offering grants for feasibility studies and for certain technical training programmes, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), offering insurance to U.S investment overseas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), which promotes U.S. agricultural exports and has programs offering credits to support exports of certain U.S. agricultural commodities and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which has a number of programs aimed at assisting grassroots economic development and trade capacity.
