The eighth edition of a Career, Business and Skill Acquisition (CABSA) initiative, combining grants, exhibitions, open markets exhibition and career clinics to support entrepreneurs and professionals in the country’s largest local government, Alimosho, kicked off yesterday. The five-day empowerment programme is powered by the Calvary Bible Church.
The Founder and General Overseer of the church, Dr. Olumide Emmanuel said at the event tagged ‘CABSA 8.0: The Alimosho Exhibition and Business Summit’, participants will benefit from free business consultancy, career guidance, wholesale markets, panel sessions and business showcases, while several entrepreneurs will also receive grants worth millions of naira.
He described CABSA as a transformational initiative that has evolved beyond skills training to become a hub for business and career growth.
‘Some of the exhibitors you see today came here eight years ago to learn soap-making or photography. They have now built businesses, employ others and are exhibiting their products. That’s the transformation we want to see,’ Emmanuel said.
CABSA, which began as a skills acquisition project during an Easter programme organized by the church, has grown into a multi-faceted empowerment platform. According to the wealth coach, its uniqueness this year lies in the Alimosho Exhibition, where entrepreneurs and businesses will connect directly with consumers and wholesalers.
Emmanuel explained that CABSA is not just a church project but a ‘strategic effort to put Alimosho on the global map’, noting that the community’s size and electoral influence made it central to Lagos and Nigeria’s socio-economic future.
‘Alimosho is the largest local government in the country. For 30 years I’ve told my people, we are not here by accident. We are here to say, Alimosho must be put on the global map. Together, we will change this,’ he said.
Although he could not quantify CABSA’s overall impact in monetary terms, the life coach however, stressed that the initiative had touched thousands of lives, created hundreds of entrepreneurs and strengthened businesses through grants and training.
He pointed to the church’s wider social projects, including 27 years of scholarship schemes and feeding initiatives through ‘Martha’s Kitchen’ since 2008, as proof of its long-standing commitment to community development.
‘In the business world, we measure by cost-benefit analysis. In the kingdom, it’s different. You can spend N100 million to win one soul because one soul is worth more than a $1trillion. Our focus is on transformed lives,’ Emmanuel added.
Meanwhile, exhibitors at CABSA 8.0 credited the platform with giving them visibility, confidence and direct customer engagement.
Fashion entrepreneur, Favour Ogedengbe, who recently graduated from a tertiary institution and now runs a clothing and skincare brand, said the programme had accelerated her business growth.
‘CABSA has really given me visibility. Unlike social media, here you see customers face-to-face, understand their needs, and grow your business in real terms. It has given me exposure at the right time,’ she said.
For Pertinence Group, the event was an opportunity to introduce its fintech innovation, Genius by Pettisave, designed to build saving cultures among SMEs.
‘The church has a significant role to play in society. Supporting businesses is one of the critical pillars of nation-building. This exhibition shows how the church can foster unity and enterprise development,’ the firm’s Assistant General Manager, Tolulope Oduselu said.
Food brand, Eagle Foods, also a first-time participant, said CABSA enabled them to sell healthy food products at wholesale prices, helping families cope with economic challenges.
‘CABSA is an impactful programme that builds confidence and helps businesses project themselves beyond Lagos to the world. It’s about growth, visibility, and encouraging entrepreneurs to aim higher,’ co-founder, Temitope Ayo-Joshua said.
Looking ahead, Emmanuel projected bigger grants and broader reach for future editions of CABSA.
‘When we started, we shared N20,000 grants. Today, we’re giving out millions. By CABSA 10.0, we may be talking about N20 million or N50 million in grants, with hundreds more entrepreneurs empowered and exhibiting their businesses,’ he said.
On government support, Emmanuel argued that effective institutions, not political handouts, were what the country needed. According to him, CABSA thrives on personal responsibility, partnerships, and sustainable structures rather than politics.
‘When government does its job, much of what we are doing won’t be necessary. But as long as there is a need, we will keep doing our part to transform lives,’ he stressed.