Connect Nigeria is set to host the 2020 edition its annual business fair at the Tafawa Balewa square on March 6-7, 2020.
The Business Fair was created to empower businesses as well as foster collaboration among young enterprising people and businesses making sustainable impacts.
This year’s business fair promises to be bigger and better than the previous year’s edition which had thousands of attendees and about 150 exhibitors. The business enabling platform is expected to serve as a bridge between businesses within the African continent and the rest of the world.
Connect Nigeria, through the annual business fair, is building strong business networks and laying down processes that serve to ensure the success of individual enterprises.
Since 2011, the Business Fair has grown from just 500 attendees to over 7000 attendees, making it Africa’s biggest SME event with some success stories.
The event, which is the 8th edition of the Connect Nigeria Business Fair, provides a roadmap for business owners with focus on panel sessions, pitch sessions, masterclasses, exhibition, networking and lots more.
The exhibition is expected to host 400 brands from various industries, showcasing their products and services to thousands of attendees. This year’s edition of the business fair is backed by brands like Alliance insurance, Aiteo, Union bank, Sigma Pensions, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Airtel and so on.
While answering questions during a press briefing attended by Nairametrics, the Chief Executive Officer, Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, pointed out that the theme for the event, 2020 vision is used because we are in the year 2020 and for businesses to grow to the next level, they need to do what they have to do holistically.
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Elaborating further, the CEO explained that the event is a conference and exhibition that will be happening simultaneously. While some participants are getting knowledge, some will be around for business transactions. He mentioned that there will be 3 categories of speakers namely:
- The titans – these are CEOs or top executives of top tier companies in Nigeria;
- Everyday regular entrepreneurs that do business in Nigeria who have grown their businesses from startups to big businesses and have been around for at least 5 years.
- Startups who are raising money and doing incredible things and have been in business for less than 5 years.
Okafor reiterated that apart from the selling of products and services, the business fair affords participants and exhibitors the opportunities to make connections, develop contacts as well as acquire knowledge from other business leaders and entrepreneurs.
He also said that the greatest challenge faced by SMEs are that of human capital and Government policies. The business fair provides opportunities for speakers to enlighten participants on these.
