The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.
8–10 November 2026Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos
The theme.
Two years in, Nigerian small business has re-drawn the national conversation. Three days at EPAC take it into the frontier we haven’t crossed together: markets past the state line, finance that meets a small business where it is, and policy that leaves the room changed.
ENVISIONED BY
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SUPPORTED BY
HOSTED BY
The room in 2025.
Federal Palace, Lagos. Three days, 2,000+ entrepreneurs, and the moment GROW Nigerian became more than a working title.
- delegates2,000+
- sessions48
- exhibitors112
- grants awarded₦18M

Day 3 Recap
Closing day at Federal Palace. The Zero to 100 final, the awards, and the room emptying into the future.

Day 2 Recap
A full day of clinics, dialogues, and the shortlisted 30 walking into the semi-finals.

Keynote Address Recap
The main-stage keynote. GROW Nigerian named the frontier.
The room in 2026.
8–10 November · Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The room re-opens with more rooms, more voices, and more of you in it.
- days3
- exhibitors156
- voices90+
THE SHAPE
Five tracks. Seven rooms.
One agenda, deliberately not built around panels. Every track can run in every room; what changes room to room is the format.
01
Finance and Capital Access
Working capital, credit rails, blended finance and grant windows that don't leak.
02
Markets and Export Readiness
State-line to continent. Route to market, distribution, and export paperwork that runs.
03
Policy and Business Environment
Tax, permits, incentives and enforcement. Where the room changes the rules.
04
Digital Adoption and Technology
Payment rails, digital storefronts, AI in the day-to-day, cybersecurity for MSMEs.
05
Workforce Solutions
Talent pipelines, apprenticeships, skills, and the people who make the business run.
Every track can run in every room. The room sets the format.
The programme.
Three days, five tracks, seven rooms. The full agenda is coming soon.
THE AGENDA
COMING SOONSessions and times are on the way.
We’re finalising the sessions, speakers and rooms for all three days. The full agenda will be published here soon.
DAY 1 · 8 NOVEMBER
Nigeria First Fair opens, Fashion & Food Showcase
Nigeria First Fair open to the public · Showcase by invitation
DAY 2 · 9 NOVEMBER
Sessions, Nigeria First Fair, semi-finals
Open to the public
DAY 3 · 10 NOVEMBER
Sessions, Nigeria First Fair, the Zero to 100 final
Open to the public
From the Presidency to the marketplace.
The President, Vice President and leaders of the National Assembly, alongside ministers, regulators, business leaders and the founders building Nigeria’s MSMEs.
GUEST OF HONOURHIS EXCELLENCY
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces · Federal Republic of Nigeria
GUEST OF HONOURHIS EXCELLENCY
Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON
Vice President · Federal Republic of Nigeria
GUEST OF HONOURHIS EXCELLENCY
Sen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, GCON
President of the Senate · Federal Republic of Nigeria
GUEST OF HONOURRT. HON.
Dr. Tajudeen Abbas
Speaker of the House of Representatives · Federal Republic of Nigeria
EXECUTIVE HOSTHIS EXCELLENCY
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
Governor · Lagos State
HOSTCharles Odii
Director-General and CEO · SMEDAN
SPECIAL GUESTSen. John Owan Enoh
Honourable Minister of State for Industry · Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
KEYNOTE SPEAKERAdewale Tinubu, CON
Group Chief Executive · Oando PLC
Nigeria First Fair.
THE GROW MSME MARKETPLACE
137 booths inside and 19 outdoor food vendors. 156 businesses from every state of the federation, open to the public for shopping all three days, 8 to 10 November. Free entry. Expecting about 5,000 visitors a day.
156
businesses in total
137
indoor booths
19
outdoor food vendors
~15k
shoppers over 3 days
Approvals begin the week of 26 October.
Booths are being allocated now. Names of approved businesses are announced closer to the event.
- A02
Textiles & Apparel · Lagos
- A05
Food & Beverage · Ogun
- A08
Beauty & Wellness · Kano
- B01
Craft & Homeware · Anambra
- B04
Digital & Tech · Rivers
- B09
Agri & Materials · Kaduna
- B12
Fashion Accessories · Enugu
- C03
Personal Care · Delta
- C07
Home Goods · Edo
- C11
Health & Nutrition · FCT
- D02
Textiles & Apparel · Plateau
- D06
Food & Beverage · Cross River
- D10
Craft & Homeware · Oyo
- E01
Digital & Tech · Kwara
- E05
Beauty & Wellness · Nasarawa
- A02
Textiles & Apparel · Lagos
- A05
Food & Beverage · Ogun
- A08
Beauty & Wellness · Kano
- B01
Craft & Homeware · Anambra
- B04
Digital & Tech · Rivers
- B09
Agri & Materials · Kaduna
- B12
Fashion Accessories · Enugu
- C03
Personal Care · Delta
- C07
Home Goods · Edo
- C11
Health & Nutrition · FCT
- D02
Textiles & Apparel · Plateau
- D06
Food & Beverage · Cross River
- D10
Craft & Homeware · Oyo
- E01
Digital & Tech · Kwara
- E05
Beauty & Wellness · Nasarawa
OPEN APPLICATION
30
booths open to the public application pool.
ELIGIBILITY
- CAC-registered business
- SMEDAN registered (optional · priority)
- 2+ years operating
- Ecobank onboarding consent
THREE STEPS
- 1
Apply
10 min
- 2
Review
By SMEDAN
- 3
Onboard
+ booth
Deadline · 23 October 2026
Apply for a boothZero to 100.
The pitch competition, with a ₦30 million grant pool. After a rigorous shortlisting process, 10 businesses go to the semi-finals on Day 2, then the live final on Day 3.

PITCH ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO
Coming soon.
ZERO TO 100 · PRIZE POOL
₦30M
FIRST
₦15M
The winner
SECOND
₦10M
Runner-up
THIRD
₦5M
Third place
01
Apply
Post a 1.5–2 min pitch video on Instagram, then send your business, SMEDAN ID and deck. Open 15 to 22 October.
02
Shortlist
After a rigorous shortlisting process, 10 businesses go to the semi-finals. Announced 26 October.
03
Semi-finals
Day 2 at EPAC. The 10 pitch to a live audience.
04
The Final
Day 3, Plenary Hall. The finalists pitch to the judging panel. Grants disbursed on stage.
Applications close 22 October, 5pm.

THE RUNWAY
The Fashion & Food Showcase.
An evening on 8 November opens the conference: a curated runway of Nigerian designers, and tasting stations from the country’s most watched kitchens. Invited audience of delegates, investors and the Lagos creative and business community.
- 8 NOVEMBER
- Day 1 · Evening
- BY INVITE
- 5 designers
- TASTING STATIONS
- 6 kitchens
- VENUE
- EPAC · Lagos
Three ways to take part.
All free. Pick the one that fits.
FREE · 8–10 NOV
Attend
For anyone. Sessions on 9 and 10 November; the Nigeria First Fair is open for shopping all three days, 8 to 10. Live-stream option for remote attendees.
30 OPEN SLOTS · 156 BOOTHS IN TOTAL
Exhibit
For SMEs with 2+ years operating. 30 open slots. CAC required; SMEDAN optional and prioritised.
₦30M GRANT POOL · CLOSES 22 OCT, 5PM
Pitch
For businesses ready to pitch. Deck + a 1.5–2 min pitch video on Instagram. 10 shortlisted for the semi-finals. Applications close 22 October, 5pm.










