■Odii says initiative will equip entrepreneurs with expertise, capital to scale companies, create jobs
James Emejo in Abuja
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), mentioned it goals to create 100 millionaire entrepreneurs by way of a mixture of enterprise improvement coaching, monetary grants and market entry initiatives at its forthcoming GROW Nigerian Conference 2026.
The initiative, which can function a ₦100 million pitch competitors, is designed to deal with among the main constraints confronting small companies, notably restricted entry to finance, insufficient enterprise administration expertise and difficulties accessing markets.
SMEDAN Director General, Mr. Charles Odii, mentioned the company was in search of to maneuver entrepreneurs past expertise acquisition to constructing commercially viable companies able to producing wealth, sustaining livelihoods and creating employment.
The convention, scheduled for November 8 to 10 in Lagos, will deliver collectively entrepreneurs, buyers, policymakers, monetary establishments and regulatory businesses.
Speaking forward of the occasion, Odii mentioned the 100-millionaire ambition was anchored on the understanding that entrepreneurial potential alone was inadequate to construct profitable companies with out entry to the mandatory instruments, capital and market alternatives.
He defined that whereas some aspiring entrepreneurs possessed related expertise, their incapability to afford gear and different start-up necessities prevented them from translating these expertise into income-generating ventures.
Similarly, he mentioned present companies required improved data of pricing, buyer acquisition and monetary administration to deploy capital successfully and obtain sustainable development.
He mentioned, “Our ambition to create 100 millionaires brings these needs together. We want entrepreneurs to leave the conference with useful skills, financial support and connections that help them build businesses capable of sustaining livelihoods and employing others.”
The three-day convention, themed, “GROW Nigerian: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access”, will mix sensible masterclasses with funding alternatives, with chosen contributors anticipated to obtain monetary grants upon completion of the classes.
The Zero to 100 Pitch Competition, which carries a ₦100 million prize pool, will present one other funding window for promising enterprises, with prize disbursements scheduled for the Lagos convention and a separate occasion in Northern Nigeria.
The closing pitch shows and prize awards will happen on November 10.
According to a press release, the programme can even function a enterprise clinic the place regulatory and enterprise help establishments will present direct help to entrepreneurs on enterprise registration, compliance necessities and different operational challenges.
A devoted NAFDAC Summit on November 9 will deliver collectively the company’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and SMEDAN management with enterprise homeowners and SME consultant teams to look at regulatory bottlenecks and attainable options.
NAFDAC can even reveal its NAPAMS platform, offering sensible steerage on its use and responding to questions from collaborating companies.
The convention will function the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi; Managing Director of the Development Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Tony Okpanachi; and Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Abubakar A. Bello.
Also anticipated are the Director General of NAFDAC, Adeyeye; Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN; and Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye.
Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, will ship the keynote tackle, drawing on his expertise in constructing and increasing a Nigerian enterprise.
Other confirmed facilitators embrace Chude Jideonwo, co-founder of Red Africa and Joy Inc.; Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, founding father of Zapphaire Events; Teniola Chigbata, popularly generally known as TennyCoco; Nelly Agbogu, founding father of NaijaBrandChick; and Anita Natacha Akide, generally known as Symply Tacha.
Their classes will deal with occasion administration, magnificence and make-up artistry, constructing magnificence companies and deploying synthetic intelligence for advertising, amongst different sensible areas of enterprise improvement.
The programme can even incorporate a movie screening and expertise improvement element, with award-winning filmmaker, Tola Odunsi, scheduled to display screen his newest manufacturing, 19, and conduct dwell auditions for a movie commissioned by SMEDAN.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria First Fair, which can run all through the three days, is predicted to offer collaborating Nigerian companies with direct entry to shoppers, company patrons and retailers.
The market will allow small companies to showcase domestically made merchandise, entice clients, discover bulk orders and set up industrial relationships forward of the festive season.
SMEDAN mentioned the honest would additionally provide Lagos residents a chance to buy straight from native enterprises, arguing that elevated patronage of Nigerian merchandise might strengthen the income base of small companies.
The convention will open on November 8 with the Nigeria First Fair and a Fashion and Food Showcase, whereas the formal opening ceremony is scheduled for November 9. Lagos (*100*) Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is predicted to attend.
The convention is being organised in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH by way of its Sustainable Economic Development Cluster, with help from the German Government and co-funding from Denmark, Switzerland and the European Union.
MTN and the Korea International Development Agency (KOICA) are additionally companions, whereas the Lagos (*100*) Government is the host and Ecobank the associate host.
