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By Zika Bobby
The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University has expanded its annual Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Conference into a Pan-African platform, marking its 20th edition with a renewed drive to address financing constraints, market access and other challenges confronting small businesses across the continent.
The two-day conference, which opened in Lagos yesterday as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Nigeria 2026, is expected to attract more than 500 delegates from over 10 African countries, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, corporate executives and development partners.
Now known as the Pan-African SME Conference, the event seeks to move beyond discussions about entrepreneurship to the development of practical platforms that will help African businesses access capital, expand into new markets, attract investment and compete across national borders.
The transition follows 19 years of EDC’s annual engagement with Nigeria’s business community through enterprise education, advisory services, research, business support and policy advocacy.
Head of Alumni Engagement and Support Services at EDC, Dr Nnenna Ugwu, said the decision to give the conference a continental outlook was informed by the growing recognition that the challenges confronting Nigerian SMEs were similar to those faced by businesses elsewhere in Africa.
“Twenty years ago, we set out to create a space where Nigerian entrepreneurs could learn, connect, and be heard, That space has grown, and so have the businesses in it. But the challenges our SMEs face do not stop at our borders, and neither should the solutions. Taking this conference Pan-African is our way of saying the next phase is about building platforms that work for businesses across the continent, and making sure what is discussed in the room is actually carried out,” she said.
With the theme: Beyond Ecosystems: Building Platforms That Help African Businesses Thrive, the conference is examining opportunities for expanding intra-African trade, scaling enterprises, developing future-ready talent and deploying emerging technologies to improve business competitiveness.
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Participants are also expected to explore how artificial intelligence, financial technology and digital transformation can help small businesses overcome operational challenges and access opportunities beyond their immediate markets.
Beyond keynote presentations and panel discussions, the conference features a Pan-African SME Expo, providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to showcase their products and services to prospective buyers, business partners and investors.
It also includes Investor Connect Sessions designed to match participating enterprises with investors whose interests align with their business sectors and stages of development.
Director of Programmes and Partnerships at EDC, Dr Olawale Anifowose, described the conference’s 20th edition as a reflection of the institution’s sustained commitment to enterprise development and the confidence reposed in it by the business community.
“Reaching a 20th edition is a testament to EDC’s consistency and to the trust the entrepreneurial community has placed in Pan-Atlantic University. This conference has always reflected our belief that SME growth is central to Africa’s development. As it grows into a Pan-African platform, it carries that belief to a much wider audience,” he said.
The conference is supported by MTN Foundation Nigeria, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, Sterling Bank, Terawork, City Cars Rentals and the School of Eloquence.
Organisers said the expanded platform would encourage stronger collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, development institutions and policymakers, with emphasis on translating conference discussions into practical interventions that support business growth across Africa.
