Agom advocates digitized SME supply chains at Lagos conference

By Matthew Olusegun

At the recently concluded Enterprise Forward Summit held in Lagos, renowned logistics expert and business leader Ogbu Okwuchukwu Agom made a compelling case for the urgent digitization of supply chains within Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.

Speaking as a keynote thought leader, Agom addressed an audience of entrepreneurs, policy advocates, financial service providers, and digital solution architects in a session that quickly became a highlight of the two-day event.

Agom, who serves as the Managing Director of Gliftlane Logistics Limited and an Associate Consultant with Enterprise Structure Development, delivered a data-rich presentation titled, “Digitizing the Backbone: How Technology Can Unlock SME Supply Chain Efficiency.”

Drawing from over nine years of hands-on experience in central banking, logistics consulting, and project management, he highlighted the critical role of digitization in transforming Nigeria’s fragmented and cost-heavy supply chains.

“Data is the new currency in logistics,” Agom declared. “In today’s hypercompetitive market, Nigerian SMEs cannot afford to operate in silos or rely on pen-and-paper operations. Digitized supply chains aren’t just about speed; they’re about visibility, accuracy, and adaptability.”

Agom advocated for the adoption of cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions tailored for SMEs, emphasizing that digitization allows small businesses to forecast demand more accurately, reduce inventory losses, and streamline vendor management.

He also called on the government to support infrastructure development in urban-rural trade corridors and incentivize private logistics providers offering last-mile delivery solutions.

Several attendees praised Agom’s address, noting its practicality and relevance. One participant, Chidinma Okocha, founder of a Lagos-based agro-distribution startup, remarked, “He broke it down clearly, how a lack of supply chain visibility is killing our profits.”

Agom’s remarks were part of a broader conversation on how SMEs can scale sustainably in Nigeria. His keynote underscored the need for partnerships between tech startups, financial institutions, and logistics experts to ensure that digital supply chains become the norm, not the exception.