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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Nigeria’s drive to rebuild its manufacturing base received a significant boost as WellaFitta Resources Limited announced the sponsorship of 2,000 young entrepreneurs for the highly anticipated GENSPARK 2026 summit, scheduled to hold from March 17 to 21, 2026, at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.
The weeklong industrial engagement is expected to attract more than 5,000 young innovators from across the country and will feature a large-scale exhibition of over 2,000 locally manufactured products. Designed as a practical response to youth unemployment and the growing “Japa Syndrome,” the summit aims to equip participants with hands-on production skills, leadership capacity, and regulatory knowledge needed to build sustainable businesses within Nigeria.
The intervention by WellaFitta Resources Limited has injected fresh momentum into the initiative by removing financial barriers for 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, ensuring broader access to the specialized training and exposure the summit offers. Industry stakeholders have described the sponsorship as timely and strategic, especially as the country seeks durable solutions to youth migration and economic vulnerability.
Speaking on the rationale behind the sponsorship, Pharm. (Mrs.) Jooda, representing WellaFitta Resources Limited, said the company remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare and industrial value chain through local manufacturing. She explained that the initiative aligns with the firm’s broader vision of fostering self-reliance and encouraging young Nigerians to take responsibility for the nation’s productive future.
According to her, the sponsorship also creates a meeting point for ideas capable of translating into actionable partnerships and policy-driven outcomes that can reposition Nigeria’s industrial sector for long-term growth.
GENSPARK 2026 will host a lineup of prominent industry leaders and policymakers who are expected to guide participants through practical business pathways and real-world manufacturing challenges. Confirmed speakers include Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA); Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, Chairman of Fidson Healthcare PLC; Abimbola Balogun, Co-founder and Executive Director of So Fresh; and Taofik Odukoya, Founder and CEO of Vanguard Pharmacy Ltd.
Other facilitators are Abimbola Adebakin, Founder and CEO of Advantage Health Africa; Yinka Afonja, Chairman and CEO of ACE Mall; Gbenga Adesina, The Billionaires Consultant; and Pharm. Abiodun Ajibade, FPSN, the Project Lead and Chief Convener of the summit.
Pharm. Ajibade, who also leads GleanForte Academy Limited, described the partnership with WellaFitta Resources as a critical complement to ongoing government efforts to diversify the economy. He noted that while Nigerian youths have excelled globally in information technology and entertainment, the productive and manufacturing sectors urgently require youth-driven innovation to guarantee economic stability.
He identified poor confidence and weak entrepreneurial capacity as major factors pushing many young Nigerians toward migration, stressing that GENSPARK 2026 is intentionally structured to trigger a “major shift in mindset” from consumption to production.
A major highlight of the summit will be the expansive industrial exhibition, where over 2,000 locally produced goods—including household items, beauty products, renewable energy solutions, and crafts—will be showcased. The exhibition is designed to provide visibility, stimulate patronage, and enable direct interaction between emerging producers, established industry players, and the general public.
Participants will also undergo intensive training focused on business sustainability, including regulatory clinics on product registration and compliance with national and international standards—key requirements for scaling and export readiness.
Organizers said all logistics and security arrangements have been finalized to ensure a smooth and secure event for attendees arriving from across the country. Interested participants and exhibitors are encouraged to complete registration and booth bookings via the official portal at www.GleanForteAcademy.com.
As preparations intensify, stakeholders say GENSPARK 2026 is shaping up to be a defining platform for repositioning Nigeria’s youth as drivers of industrial growth and economic resilience.
