GROW Nigerian 2025: SMEDAN Unveils Bold MSME Innovation & Reform Blueprint
Nigeria’s MSME sector—home to over 39 million businesses and responsible for 96% of national enterprises—is set for a major reset as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) unveils the 2025 National MSME GROW Nigerian Conference. The conference, scheduled for Nov. 16–18 in Lagos, is projected to become the most consequential MSME policy and innovation gathering in over a decade.
Dr. Charles Odii, Director-General of SMEDAN, says the 2025 edition is designed to “unlock a new era of innovation, resilience and prosperity” as Nigeria prepares for a post-policy review cycle and intensifies its pursuit of a $1 trillion economy.
The conference arrives at a pivotal time: The current National MSME Policy expires this year, making 2025 a reset point capable of shaping Nigeria’s economic competitiveness for the next five years.
A New Era of MSME Policy, Reform & Innovation
According to Odii, the 2025 GROW Nigerian Conference is more than a policy dialogue — it is a national innovation assembly, bringing together government, financiers, regulators, development partners, founders and global experts to collectively reboot the MSME ecosystem.
He describes the event as a festival of enterprise, designed to:
- Drive new MSME policy reforms
- Expand MSME access to finance, markets and digital infrastructure
- Strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity
- Boost competitiveness in export-ready sectors
- Grow jobs and inclusive wealth creation
Beyond speeches, Odii assures that entrepreneurs will access real opportunities, including grants, linkages, masterclasses, exposure, market access, and new investment partnerships.
Who Is Leading the Drive? A High-Level National & Global Line-Up
The opening ceremony will be led by:
- Vice President Kashim Shettima
- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas
- Keynote by Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA and Africa’s foremost entrepreneurship advocate
In recognition of Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s MSME capital, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will host a special stakeholders’ session honouring governors championing MSME reforms in their states.
High-Impact Policy Tracks to Reshape the MSME Landscape
1. Tax and Fiscal Reform Deep Dive
Led by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms, this session will align tax frameworks with MSME realities, addressing multiplicity of taxes, informal sector integration, and sustainable revenue models.
2. Export Development Strategy
Delivered by Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of NEPC, this track will equip MSMEs for the AfCFTA marketplace and global competitiveness.
3. Women in Business Leadership Summit
Anchored by the Minister of Women Affairs, the summit will focus on financing women-owned businesses and linking them to national programmes.
4. Digital Competitiveness Panel
Featuring top digital economy and fintech leaders:
- Tosin Eniolorunda (Moniepoint)
- Idris Olorunimbe (NCC)
- Ife Durosinmi-Etti (Herconomy)
This panel will decode digital transformation, competitiveness and inclusive digital finance.
5. Creative & IP Masterclass
With expert insights from Tobi Moody of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), participants will learn how to profit from creativity, brand assets, and intellectual property in a digital world.
GROW Nigerian Fair: A National Showcase of Enterprise Power
Running throughout the event is the GROW Nigerian Enterprise Fair, spotlighting innovation across:
- Food & Agribusiness
- Fashion & Manufacturing
- Tech & Creatives
- Entertainment & Lifestyle
The fair serves as a national marketplace for product visibility, distribution partnerships, and export linkages.
N20 Million Investment in New Innovators
A major attraction is the N20 million MSME Pitch Competition, designed to support emerging innovators solving national problems in:
- Clean energy
- Manufacturing
- Digital commerce
- Agriculture
- Circular economy
- Youth & women-led enterprises
Winners will receive grants, business support and global exposure.
A Strong Coalition of Global & Corporate Partners
The conference is powered by a consortium of development partners, including:
- German Government
- European Union
- Swiss Government
- GIZ
And co-sponsored by Nigeria’s strongest enterprise enablers:
- Moniepoint
- UBA
- Bank of Industry
- NEXIM
- Fidelity Bank
- Wema Bank
- MTN
- Enterprise Development Centre (PAU)
This underscores growing recognition that MSMEs hold the key to economic resilience, industrial renewal and inclusive national prosperity.
BRANDECONOMY Analysis: Why GROW Nigerian 2025 Matters
Nigeria’s push for sustainable growth must centre on MSMEs — the backbone of job creation and innovation. However, the sector is constrained by limited financing, fragmented policies, infrastructural bottlenecks, and low productivity.
The 2025 GROW Nigerian Conference is strategically positioned to:
- Align MSME policy with national development objectives
- Integrate MSMEs into Nigeria’s digital, export and green economy agenda
- Build state-driven MSME competitiveness
- Strengthen Nigeria’s role in the AfCFTA marketplace
- Attract global partnerships and impact capital
- Scale nationwide job creation
In many emerging markets, national MSME summits have catalysed economic transformations. South Korea, Rwanda and Vietnam provide clear evidence. With the right policy execution, GROW Nigerian 2025 could become Nigeria’s turning point.
