CALL FOR SESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Lead the room.
Applications close 30 October
- 20+
- one-hour slots
- 5
- rooms, 40 to 300 seats
- 9–10 Nov
- Day 2 and Day 3
- 30 Oct
- applications close
TWO WAYS TO TAKE PART
One call, one application.
There are no panels this year. Every slot is one hour, and every proposal sits in one of the five conference tracks.
01 · SESSION
Lead a session.
Share what you know with founders and MSMEs in a format that gets the room involved.
- Masterclass
- Structured debate
- Live case clinic
- Hot seat
- Hands-on workshop
- Fishbowl
02 · DEMONSTRATION
Deliver a live demonstration.
A live, audience-facing showcase of your product or service. Apply for any room: the Amphitheatre suits focused, interactive demonstrations, and the larger rooms are there if you expect a bigger audience. Demonstration slots carry a participation fee, confirmed on acceptance.
THE FIVE TRACKS
Pick the track your proposal fits.
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.
THE ROOMS
Five rooms, from 40 to 300 seats.
The Plenary Hall and Masterclass Room are premium rooms; the Amphitheatre, Policy Room and Orange Room use silent headsets and are open to every applicant. When you apply, you’ll see the times open in each room and tell us the one you’d like. Final allocation is at SMEDAN’s discretion.
- Premium
Plenary Hall
300 seats
- Premium
Masterclass Room
150 seats
- Silent headsets
Amphitheatre
60 seats
- Silent headsets
Policy Room
40 seats
- Silent headsets
Orange Room
40 seats
The Amphitheatre: built for interaction
Tiered seating and a stage designed for product demonstrations, live case clinics and immersive sessions. At 60 seats it’s more intimate than the Masterclass Room, and it’s the space we recommend for focused, interactive demonstrations. Every session in the Amphitheatre, Policy Room and Orange Room uses silent headsets.
Participation fees
Premium rooms and all demonstration slots carry a participation fee. Pricing isn’t published in advance: it’s confirmed privately after your proposal is accepted.
WHO CAN APPLY
Real expertise, an active business.
- You’re registered to attend the conference. It’s free, and you apply with the same email.
- You bring a clear area of expertise, or run an active business relevant to the MSME ecosystem.
- Your business is operating and visibly active: on social media, a website or an online store.
- A SMEDAN ID isn't required, but it's strongly encouraged and counts in selection.
We select on track fit, topic relevance, sector expertise and the audience you can bring.
If you’re selected
- You're given a room, slot and format, and briefed on timing and technical requirements.
- You get a share kit made from the portrait you upload, ready to post.
- You promote your session or demonstration on your own pages and channels, tagging @smedangov and @grownigerianhq and using #MSMEConference2026 #GrowNigerian.
- Premium rooms and demonstrations receive the fee schedule on acceptance.
KEY DATES
From application to your slot.
30 OCT
Applications close
Every application is assessed together after the close, so there's no advantage in waiting or rushing.
BY 3 NOV
Decisions
Every applicant hears whether their session or demonstration has been accepted.
BY 5 NOV
Your briefing
Confirmed participants get a full brief: format, timing, room layout, technical requirements and promotion.
BEFORE YOUR SLOT
Placement agreement
You sign a placement agreement before your slot is final. For premium rooms and demonstrations it includes the fee and payment terms.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
What you agree to when you apply.
You accept these when you submit the form. If you’re selected, you’ll sign a placement agreement with the details for your slot.
Questions? Contact the team.
Fees are confirmed on acceptance
Premium rooms (Plenary Hall and Masterclass Room) and all demonstration slots carry a participation fee. Pricing isn't published in advance; it's confirmed privately once your proposal is accepted.
Audience figures are estimates
Room capacities and expected audiences are a guide, not a guarantee.
SMEDAN decides and allocates
SMEDAN may approve or reject any application. Room, day and time are allocated at SMEDAN's discretion, with your preferences taken into account where possible.
You promote your slot
If you're selected, you build awareness of your session or demonstration and market it on your own pages and channels. We'll give you a card to share.
You handle your own setup
Participants are responsible for setting up and breaking down for their session or demonstration.
Event imagery may be used
SMEDAN may use photos and video from the event, including of sessions and demonstrations, for promotion.
Cancellation and refunds
These are set out in each participant's placement agreement, signed before the slot is final.