On Saturday February 3, ConnectNigeria will be hosting Africa’s largest SME event, designed to empower SMEs and startups with the business insights and tech-based growth hacks they need to scale in today’s world.
Businesses from across Nigeria and beyond will be kicking off the month of February at ConnectNigeria’s eBusiness Fair. Touted as the country’s premier business-tech event for upcoming and fast-growing enterprises and frontline brands, the eBusiness Fair is an annual trade show that affords its attendees the opportunity to learn the latest and best tech-based growth strategies from some of Nigeria’s most seasoned businesspeople. There, SMEs, startups and top brands will also unveil their newest product offerings to the public; deals will be done, high level contacts will be made, nagging enterpreneurial questions will be answered by the experts, and new business opportunities will be revealed.
From its inception in 2011, the eBusiness Fair has helped SMEs with the information and platform they require to become competitors in a fast-changing world. Attendance at the fair has grown steadily, from about 500 participants at its first edition to over 5,000 registered attendees at last year’s event. This year’s edition, the seventh of its kind, is expected to be the biggest yet.
According to Emeka Okafor, Managing Director of ConnectNigeria, the eBusiness Fair is a large scale, long term demonstration of ConnectNigeria’s target to aid the growth of SMEs in the country.
“We hope to bring together stakeholders in industry to talk about how eBusiness can help businesses,” Mr. Emeka explained. “We will talk about cashless banking, technologies and websites, and how you can utilize what you have to grow your business.”
This year’s edition of the eBusiness Fair will feature speakers from a wide range of sectors, representing long standing industry giants, as well as pioneers and disruptors whose ideas have created new business niches. They will be discussing different tried and tested ways through which SMEs can leverage technology to compete and scale. Speakers at previous editions of the fair include Lola Masha, Country Manager, OLX; Angel Fadahunsi, Deputy Director, FIRS; Ebi Atawodi, Head, global digital payments, Uber; Mark Essien, CEO, Hotels.ng; Nikki Summers, Director, SageOne, East and West Africa; Paul Ayim, Executive, Phillips Consulting; Yuli Shenfeld, CEO, JiJi.ng; and several others. Speakers at this year’s eBusiness Fair will include Ngozi Princewill, CEO, Artelier Lifestyle Consults; Akin Oyebode, Executive Secretary of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); and Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Founder, Kelechi Amadi-Obi Studios, Mabel George of Sigma Pensions, and Eyo Bassey, CEO of Payporte, Ayotunde Coker CEO Rack center , Adeyinka Fisher State Cordinator SMEDAN in Lagos
There will also be an exhibition section, where brands from multiple sectors, including finance, ICT, engineering, agribusiness, education and fashion, will be showcasing their products and services to thousands of attendees. This platform affords them the chance to scoop up high value z
The eBusiness Fair has received positive reviews from attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors alike. Ebi Atawodi, Head of digital payments (global) at Uber, says that the event was a demonstration of how passionate Nigerians can be about business and entrepreneurship.
“It’s really interesting how passionate people are, and how pumped up people are about the possibilities that are out there,” she said, at a previous edition of the fair. “I think platforms like this are also about connecting with other people. You never know where the next big idea is going to come from.”
Similarly, Adaolisa Anekwe, CEO of clothing store Zima Fashion, and an exhibitor at the fair, spoke of the benefits she got from being at the event.
“I was able to meet with people, and there was a lot of networking,” she said. “I had a lot of clients, and I made a lot of money, which is the most important thing.”
Attendance at the eBusiness Fair is free for participants.
This year’s edition of ConnectNigeria’s eBusiness Fair will take place on Saturday, February 3, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Sponsorship placements and bookings for exhibition booths are still available. To sponsor, exhibit or register, visit www.connectnigeria.com/bizfair, call 0809 800 5000 or send an email to [email protected].
About ConnectNigeria
ConnectNigeria is Nigeria’s most innovative information search portal, connecting people and businesses with information that helps improve business, productivity and personal wellbeing.
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