Why 2025 National MSME Conference is a Must Attend for You

As the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy pulses with each innovation leap forward, the 2025 National MSME Conference becomes a source of hope and action towards making a difference for the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises. Organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), this milestone event, tagged “GROW Nigerian: Building a Future of Innovation, Resilience, and Prosperity,” is scheduled to take place between November 16 and 18, 2025, at the iconic Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

In a country where MSMEs contribute over 50 percent to the GDP and absorb nearly 90 percent of the workforce, the conference is not just an event; it is a vital platform where policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry trailblazers meet to break down obstacles, fire up growth, and chart pathways of sustainable prosperity. Drawing from the success of the 2024 edition, which attracted over 3,000 participants and shared grants totaling ₦10 million, this year’s edition promises even greater impact, with ₦20 million in prizes on offer and a laser focus on digital innovation, financial access, and policy reforms that could charge Nigeria toward its ambitious $1 trillion economy goal.

The theme of the conference holds a collective call to action-to build resilience through turbulent economic times, harness innovation for competitive advantages, and create prosperity through inclusive strategies that ensure a place for youth-led ventures, women entrepreneurs, and the creative industries. At its core, the event connects the gap between aspiration and execution, ensuring that attendees walk away inspired but, importantly, equipped with the tools-from investor matchmaking and business clinics to intellectual property guidance and savings challenges-to turn small ideas into thriving enterprises.

Why Attend?

• Learn from the best
• Build meaningful connection
• Access Growth Opportunities
• Explore MSME exhibitions, career rooms, and immersive innovation zones, plus special focus summits on digital transformation, green business, and women in enterprise 
• REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND THE 2025 NATIONAL MSME CONFERENCE

Hosts and Special Guests of Honor

Hosted by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose administration has placed the state at the forefront of Africa’s entrepreneurship pursuits, the conference will welcome an unprecedented coming together of national leaders and global influencers to ensure that this discussion translates into real policy and partnership opportunities.

These will be ably led by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under whose Renewed Hope Agenda the revitalization of MSMEs, including the Presidential Grants for Nano-Businesses, has been made a priority; and His Excellency Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, a committed promoter of economic diversification and youth empowerment.

The Special Guests of Honour are the President of the National Assembly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, CON, whose exemplary legislative leadership has shaped pro-business reforms in the National Assembly, and the Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, Speaker of the House of Representatives, deeply committed to giving voice to small business owners in federal policy decisions. Dr. Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, will also grace the ceremony with the understanding of tax incentives and fiscal compliance strategies designed to lighten the fiscal burden on MSMEs. This is a cast of high-caliber personalities attesting to the current federal government’s commitment to the elevation of the sector, with activities designed to promote direct dialogue between leaders and grassroots innovators.

Speakers

The intellectual firepower extends to the slate of renowned speakers who personify the bold and actionable entrepreneurship that the conference represents. Delivering the keynote address will be none other than Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), a true visionary who has seeded over 18,000 African startups with $100 million in funding and continues to lead the charge for Africapitalism as a model for pan-African inclusive growth. As host, speaker, and panelist, Charles Odii, Director General/CEO of SMEDAN, will lead conversations around scaling operations through volatility, leveraging his agency’s work at the forefront of providing resources and opportunities to thousands of Nigeria’s creators. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, will present sessions on how to unlock market access and investment flows; Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, will discuss sustainability in manufacturing and export readiness. The Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, will inspire sessions around turning youthful creativity into self-sufficient enterprises, while Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, will drive the dedicated Women Summit around mentorship, access to finance, and gender-inclusive policies propelling women-led businesses forward.

Program and Events

The three-day program unwraps as a vibrant tapestry of enlightenment, networking, and opportunity, kicking off on November 16 with an electrifying opening ceremony featuring presidential remarks and the keynote by Tony Elumelu, setting the tone for transformative dialogues. Day one delves deep into policy realms through high-level panel discussions on themes like “Digital Innovation for MSME Competitiveness” and “Resilient Supply Chains in a Volatile Economy,” where ministers and executives dissect regulatory hurdles and unveil incentives for tech adoption and green practices. Participants will rotate through interactive business clinics offering one-on-one consultations with experts on funding, legal compliance, and market expansion, alongside the launch of the Save2Grow Challenge in partnership with Herconomy—a savings initiative where participants stashing as little as ₦1,000 monthly could win ₦500,000 in grants, stocks, and gadgets, announced live on stage.

November 17 heats things up with masterclasses designed to catalyze immediate action: Folagade Banks, one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s creative economy, unravels “The Business of Content: How Storytelling Builds Profitable Brands,” showing how strategic narratives could power the top-of-mind awareness and revenues of solo entrepreneurs and agencies alike. Complementing this is Mr. Tobi Moody, Country Director of WIPO Nigeria, who unpacks “Who Owns It? Rethinking Intellectual Property in Nigeria’s Creative and Cultural Economy,” arming creators with the next-level arsenal to protect their ideas, leveraging their assets, and sidestepping costly mistakes in a burgeoning digital ecosystem. Running in parallel are the Women’s Summit highlighting success stories and funding pipelines for female founders, while for the youth, breakouts focus on gig economy hacks and startup accelerators. The afternoon vibrates to the energy of the MSME Exhibition and Fair, a bustling marketplace showcasing the best of artisanal crafts, technology prototypes, and service innovations by over 200 exhibitors, resulting in on-the-spot deals, collaborations, and cultural exchanges that turn visitors into lifelong partners.

Pitch Competition

The crescendo is reached on November 18 with the highly anticipated SMEDAN Pitch Competition, where 10 shortlisted trailblazers from such varied industries as agritech, fintech, and sustainable fashion go head-to-head for a share of the ₦20 million grant pool-₦10 million first place, ₦5 million second, ₦3 million third, and consolation prizes to fuel further journeys. Judges, comprising investors and sector experts, will grill pitches on scalability, impact, and innovation; winners are announced amid cheers and immediate handovers to kickstart growth. Wrapping the day are closing policy roundtables synthesizing key takeaways into a “GROW Nigerian Roadmap”-a collaborative manifesto of recommendations for federal action on MSME finance, digital infrastructure, and trade facilitation-followed by a gala networking dinner under the stars, replete with live performances and deal-closing toasts.

This isn’t just a conference; it is a movement-a crucible where the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigeria is refined into unbreakable resolve. Be you a bootstrapped founder in search of that one big investor, a policymaker thirsty for grassroots insights, or an enthusiast ready to take a deep dive into the next big African wave, the 2025 National MSME Conference calls on you to register today at smedan.gov.ng/msmeconference and take your front-row seat to history in the making. Grow Nigeria-together. REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND THE 2025 NATIONAL MSME CONFERENCE