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.
In a statement yesterday, SMEDAN said the conference will take place from 8 to 10 November 2026 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme “GROW Nigerian: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.”
“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,” the statement said
SMEDAN Director-General and Chief Executive Officer 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,” Odii said.
“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.”
SMEDAN 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.
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.
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