Grow Nigerian

The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.

8–10 November 2026Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos

GROW NIGERIAN 20268–10 NOVEMBEREPAC LAGOS3 DAYS5 TRACKS7 ROOMS156 EXHIBITORS90+ VOICES₦30M PITCH POOLZERO TO 100FREE TO ATTENDLIVE-STREAMEDFASHION & FOOD SHOWCASEENVISIONED BY SMEDAN

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.

InnovationPolicyMarket access

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.

  • First place is announced as confetti falls
  • Hundreds of ICSS graduates hold up their certificates on stage
  • A masquerade dancer in red and white performs beside the audience
  • The main hall on its feet
  • The ribbon is cut to open the MSME exhibition
  • Four guests in bold prints pose on the red carpet

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.

See the full programmeCOMING SOON

THE AGENDA

COMING SOON

Sessions 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.

  1. DAY 1 · 8 NOVEMBER

    Nigeria First Fair opens, Fashion & Food Showcase

    Nigeria First Fair open to the public · Showcase by invitation

  2. DAY 2 · 9 NOVEMBER

    Sessions, Nigeria First Fair, semi-finals

    Open to the public

  3. 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.

View all speakers
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFRGUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCY

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces · Federal Republic of Nigeria

GUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCYAsiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces · Federal Republic of Nigeria

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in office since May 2023.

Before entering politics he trained as an accountant at Chicago State University and worked with Arthur Andersen, Deloitte and Mobil. He was elected Senator for Lagos West in 1992 and, after the Senate was dissolved in 1993, campaigned for the return of democracy as part of the National Democratic Coalition.

He served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and in 2013 played a leading role in forming the All Progressives Congress.

Senator Kashim Shettima, GCONGUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCY

Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON

Vice President · Federal Republic of Nigeria

GUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCYSenator Kashim Shettima, GCON

Vice President · Federal Republic of Nigeria

Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, is the 15th Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in office since May 2023.

An agricultural economist, he studied at the University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan, lectured at the University of Maiduguri, and spent over a decade in banking, rising to North-East General Manager at Zenith Bank.

He served as a commissioner in five ministries in Borno State, was Governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019, and represented Borno Central in the Senate from 2019 to 2023.

Sen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, GCONGUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCY

Sen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, GCON

President of the Senate · Federal Republic of Nigeria

GUEST OF HONOUR

HIS EXCELLENCYSen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, GCON

President of the Senate · Federal Republic of Nigeria

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is the 15th President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in office since June 2023. He represents Akwa Ibom North-West.

A lawyer trained at the University of Calabar, he practised law and later led EMIS Telecoms as Managing Director and CEO, before entering public service in 2002 as a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State.

He was Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, first entered the Senate in 2015, and served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022.

Dr. Tajudeen AbbasGUEST OF HONOUR

RT. HON.

Dr. Tajudeen Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives · Federal Republic of Nigeria

GUEST OF HONOUR

RT. HON.Dr. Tajudeen Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives · Federal Republic of Nigeria

Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas is the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, elected in June 2023 with 353 of 359 votes. He has represented Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State since 2011 and holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau.

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and a doctorate in business management from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He lectured at Kaduna State University and worked as a marketing manager before entering the National Assembly.

In the House he served on the Commerce, Finance, Defence and Public Procurement committees, chaired the Committee on Land Transport, and became one of its most prolific sponsors of bills.

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-OluEXECUTIVE HOST

HIS EXCELLENCY

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

Governor · Lagos State

EXECUTIVE HOST

HIS EXCELLENCYMr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

Governor · Lagos State

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has been Governor of Lagos State since May 2019.

He holds a BSc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos, and is an alumnus of London Business School, Lagos Business School and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He began his career in banking, with roles at Lead Merchant Bank, United Bank for Africa and First Inland Bank.

In Lagos public service he was Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and for Establishments, Training and Pensions, pioneer board chairman of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, and Managing Director of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation before his election as governor.

Charles OdiiHOST

Charles Odii

Director-General and CEO · SMEDAN

HOST

Charles Odii

Director-General and CEO · Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)

Charles Odii is a Nigerian entrepreneur, author and entrepreneurship-development expert. He serves as the Director-General and CEO of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), where he leads the government agency responsible for promoting and supporting the growth and development of Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He serves on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisory Committee of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA). He is also Chairman of the ICSS Steering Committee and Secretary of the National Council of SMEs in Nigeria.

Since assuming leadership of SMEDAN, Odii has pursued an agenda focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening entrepreneurship, improving market access, developing productive infrastructure, formalising businesses and building stronger support systems for Nigerian MSMEs. In his first 100 days, SMEDAN reported 15,000 jobs created and more than ₦12 billion in SME financing facilitated at single-digit interest rates.

One of his flagship initiatives is the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE), for which he helped secure US$12 million in funding from the Republic of Korea, in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In Q1 2025, more than 116,000 entrepreneurs received support and over 90,160 jobs were created through SMEDAN’s programmes and partnerships, and in 2025 SMEDAN partnered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to provide free registration for 250,000 MSMEs.

He has introduced and championed the SMEDAN Undergraduate Internship Programme (SUIP), a dedicated Women and Youth Desk, a Green Energy and Climate Desk and the Grow Nigerian MSME Clinic, and invested in productive infrastructure including the Garment and Textile Hub and Makerspace.

Odii was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in 2025, and has received the Sun Newspaper Public Service Award and the Independent Newspaper Public Sector CEO of the Year Award. He is a National Policy Fellow of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a certified Business Development Service Provider, a mentor with the U.S. Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and an entrepreneurship coach.

His academic and executive education includes programmes at Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and Lagos Business School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Covenant University and a master’s degree from Pan-Atlantic University.

Sen. John Owan EnohSPECIAL GUEST

Sen. John Owan Enoh

Honourable Minister of State for Industry · Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

SPECIAL GUEST

Sen. John Owan Enoh

Honourable Minister of State for Industry · Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

Senator John Owan Enoh is the Honourable Minister of State for Industry at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, a role he took up in October 2024 after serving as Minister of Sports Development.

A sociologist by training and a former lecturer at the University of Calabar, he served three terms in the House of Representatives from 2003, chairing its Finance and Appropriation committees, and represented Cross River Central in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

He is also a farmer, with oil palm and livestock operations in Cross River State that work with an out-grower scheme for local communities.

Adewale Tinubu, CONKEYNOTE SPEAKER

Adewale Tinubu, CON

Group Chief Executive · Oando PLC

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Adewale Tinubu, CON

Group Chief Executive · Oando PLC

Adewale Tinubu, CON, is the Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC, sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost indigenous energy group, with a primary listing on the Nigerian stock exchange and a cross-border listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

A lawyer by training, he earned his law degree at the University of Liverpool and a master’s in law from the London School of Economics, where he specialised in international finance and shipping.

He co-founded Ocean and Oil Group, which was rebranded as Oando in 2003, and went on to lead its transformation into an integrated energy group.

His work has been recognised internationally, including as a World Economic Forum Global Young Leader in 2007 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for West Africa in 2015. He founded the Oando Foundation in 2011.

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

See the Nigeria First FairCOMING SOONView booth mapCOMING SOON

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. 1

    Apply

    10 min

  2. 2

    Review

    By SMEDAN

  3. 3

    Onboard

    + booth

Deadline · 23 October 2026

Apply for a booth

Zero 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.

A founder pitches to the judging panel at the 2025 conference

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.

Apply to pitch

Applications close 22 October, 5pm.

A model walks the runway in a striped fringe kaftan

THE RUNWAY

01 / 06

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.