The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria says its 2025 National Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises GROW Nigerian Conference will drive innovation in the sector.

SMEDAN director-general Charles Odii said this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Odii said that the conference would ensure enterprise growth and policy reform across the country’s small business sector.

He said that the conference would serve as a rallying point for stakeholders to chart new pathways for strengthening the MSME ecosystem.

According to him, the event, scheduled to take place from November 16 to 18 in Lagos, will support the review of the National MSME Policy, which is set to expire this year.

“It will also provide fresh direction for the next five-year policy framework for the sector. The 2025 theme, GROW Nigerian: Building a Future of Innovation, Resilience and Prosperity, emphasises the agency’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs access finance, markets, skills and visibility. At this conference, we are building on our work to expand opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs,” he said.

Mr Odii said that the conference would be a festival of ideas, innovation, and enterprise that brings together government, the private sector, development partners, and MSMEs to collaborate for measurable impact.

“Beyond discussions, participants will also access grants and tangible opportunities to help them grow,” he said.

Mr Odii said that the three-day event would feature major policy dialogues, masterclasses, exhibitions, and business networking sessions.

“Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, will lead the opening ceremony. The opening session will also feature a keynote address by the chairman of United Bank for Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu.

“The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will host a stakeholder meeting in honour of governors who have shown strong support for MSME growth in their states,” he said.

He stated that the conference would also feature a special session on national tax reforms, led by Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

Mr Odill said that there would be another session on export development by the executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni.

“The Women Summit, scheduled for Nov.18 and to be led by the Minister of Women Affairs, will focus on empowering women-owned businesses and linking them with funders and national programmes.

“A masterclass series will feature leading creative and business figures, including Tobi Moody, country director of the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Nigeria.

“The conference will also host a panel on digital competitiveness, featuring Tosin Eniolorunda of Moniepoint, Idris Olorunimbe of the Nigerian Communications Commission, and Ife Durosinmi-Etti of Herconomy. Running concurrently throughout the event, the GROW Nigerian Fair will showcase promising enterprises in food, fashion, manufacturing, technology, and entertainment,” Mr Odii said.

The SMEDAN director-general announced that a pitch competition would be held, offering N20 million in grants to the winners.

(NAN)