The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has announced plans to create 100 new millionaire entrepreneurs through practical capacity building and financial grants at the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026.
Under the theme “GROW Nigerian: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.” the conference slated for 8th to 10th November 2026 will take place at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, EPAC, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The GROW Nigerian Conference is SMEDAN’s annual gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and development partners, designed to connect Nigerian small businesses with the skills, finance, markets and institutional support they need to grow, while shaping policies that improve the business environment.
It combines intensive masterclasses with enterprise funding, giving beneficiaries the skills and capital to start businesses, improve their operations and expand. Masterclass sessions will conclude with financial grants to selected participants, while the Zero to 100 Pitch Competition will provide additional funding opportunities for promising businesses.
The pitch competition carries a N100 million prize pool, with disbursements to be made at the conference and another event in northern Nigeria.
The final and prize presentations at the
conference will take place on 10 November.
SMEDAN Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Odii, said the conference was designed to address the practical challenges that prevent entrepreneurial talent from translating into viable businesses.
“For someone who has learnt a skill but cannot afford the tools to begin, access to capital can change their prospects. For an existing business, knowing how to price properly, attract customers and managed money can determine whether that capital produces growth.
“Our ambition to create 100 millionaires brings these needs together. We want entrepreneurs to leave the conference with usefulskills, financial support and connections that help them build businesses capable of sustaining livelihoods and employing others,” Odii
said.
The conference will also feature the Nigeria First Fair, a marketplace open to the public throughout the three days, where visitors can shop directly from Nigerian small businesses, discover local brands and meet the entrepreneurs behind their products.
With the festive season approaching, the fair offers an opportunity to get ahead on Christmas shopping, source gifts for family and friends, and purchase items for end-of-year celebrations.
Corporate buyers, retailers and organisations will also be able to explore gift orders, identify suppliers and establish relationships with participating businesses.
SMEDAN encouraged Lagos residents and visitors to attend the fair, noting that every purchase creates an immediate commercial opportunity for a Nigerian enterprise.
“We are inviting people to come and shop Nigerian. As you prepare for the festive season, there is an opportunity to discover something new, buy directly from local businesses and
help an entrepreneur finish the year stronger,” Odii said.
Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, will deliver the keynote address, bringing his experience in building and expanding a Nigerian enterprise to the conference’s
conversations on business growth.
Confirmed masterclass facilitators include Chude Jideonwo, co-founder of Red Africa and Joy Inc; Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, founder of Zapphaire Events; Teniola Chigbata, popularly known as TennyCoco; Nelly Agbogu, founder of NaijaBrandChick; and Anita
Natacha Akide, popularly known as Symply Tacha.
The sessions will cover event management, beauty and makeup artistry, building a beauty business, and using artificial intelligence for marketing.
Participants will learn through
practical demonstrations, business lessons and direct interaction with facilitators.
Awardwinning Nigerian filmmaker, Mr. Tola Odunsi, will also be at the conference to screen his latest film titled ‘19’ and to also conduct live auditions for the cast of a film production
commissioned by SMEDAN.
Also confirmed are Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry; Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Nigeria; and Abubakar A. Bello, Managing Director/Chief Executive
Officer of NEXIM Bank.
They will be joined by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC; Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission; and Mr. Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social
Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF,
A business clinic will operate throughout the conference, bringing compliance agencies and business support institutions together to provide direct guidance to entrepreneurs.
Business owners will be able to raise questions about registration, regulatory requirements and other operational concerns, receive practical advice and identify the steps needed to
resolve outstanding issues.
A dedicated NAFDAC Summit on 9 November will also take a town hall format, bringing the Directors-General of NAFDAC and SMEDAN together with entrepreneurs and SME representative groups to discuss registration requirements, identify bottlenecks and clarify available solutions.
NAFDAC will demonstrate its NAPAMS platform live, guiding businesses through its use while receiving questions and feedback.
The conference opens on 8 November with the Nigeria First Fair and a Fashion and Food Showcase celebrating Nigerian products and creative enterprise. The formal opening ceremony holds on 9 November, followed by learning sessions and business engagements
across 9 and 10 November.
The conference is being delivered in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through its Sustainable Economic
Development Cluster, SEDEC, commissioned by the German Government and cofunded by the governments of Denmark and Switzerland and the European Union.
Other partners include MTN and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA, The Lagos State Government is the host, with Ecobank as partner host.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is expected to attend.
