New cross-industry marketing network set to link farmers, SMEs, professionals nationwide

Ahmed Aliyu Joda, Kano

RBS & GROUPS has announced plans to establish a technology-driven marketing network designed to connect buyers, suppliers, and industry professionals across multiple sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

The initiative, spearheaded by the organisation’s Business Diaspora and Development unit, aims to bridge long-standing gaps in market access, supply chain coordination, and information flow, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), farmers, and artisans.

According to the group, the network will cut across critical sectors including agriculture, forestry, mineral resources, tourism, education, handicrafts, pottery, and industrial machinery, creating an integrated platform for collaboration and trade.

“Our goal is to build a tech-enabled ecosystem where industries collaborate seamlessly,” the project manager said in a statement.

“By linking producers directly to markets and strengthening supply chains, we can unlock sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness across sectors.”

The initiative comes at a time when stakeholders have increasingly called for innovative solutions to address inefficiencies in Nigeria’s trade and distribution systems, which often limit the earning potential of local producers and hinder industrial growth.

RBS & GROUPS said it is also developing scalable logistics solutions to support import and export activities, a move expected to ease the movement of goods across borders and improve overall trade efficiency.

Industry observers note that inadequate logistics infrastructure and fragmented market systems have long been major challenges facing Nigerian businesses, especially those operating in agriculture and informal sectors.

Through strategic partnerships with private enterprises and technology agencies, the group intends to deploy data-driven tools that will enable better decision-making, improve transparency, and expand opportunities for participants within the network.

The project is being led by the Project Director for Advisors and Groups under RBS & GROUPS, with a focus on leveraging digital innovation to integrate value chains and create new economic linkages.

The proposed network will cover a wide range of industries, including, sesame, soya beans, millet, corn, and vegetables. Forestry and mineral resources, industrial machinery, handicrafts and pottery, tourism and education, scalable import-export solutions for cross-border trade.

Analysts say the success of the initiative will largely depend on effective implementation, stakeholder buy-in, and the ability to deploy reliable digital infrastructure across both urban and rural areas.

If successfully executed, the RBS & GROUPS network could significantly improve connectivity within Nigeria’s fragmented markets, providing a much-needed boost to trade, job creation, and economic diversification.