The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University is expanding its annual small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) conference beyond Nigeria as it seeks to strengthen business growth, access to finance and cross-border trade across Africa.
The 20th edition of the conference, relaunched as the Pan-African SME Conference, will hold on November 16 and 17, 2026, in Lagos, bringing together more than 500 delegates from over 10 African countries to discuss practical solutions to the challenges facing businesses across the continent.
The conference, organised in collaboration with MTN Foundation Nigeria and in partnership with the African Network of Entrepreneurs (ANDE), the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, Sterling Bank, TERAWORK, City Cars Rentals and the School of Eloquence, will focus on improving access to finance and markets, expanding intra-African trade, developing talent and using technology to support business growth.
Themed ‘Beyond Ecosystems: Building Platforms That Help African Businesses Thrive,’ the event reflects EDC’s decision to broaden a platform that has convened Nigeria’s business community for 19 years, recognising that many of the barriers facing small businesses extend beyond national borders.
These challenges include access to finance, markets, talent and infrastructure, as well as the need for supportive policies and opportunities to trade across borders.
Nnenna Ugwu, head of Alumni Engagement and Support Services at EDC, Pan-Atlantic University, said the expansion would help build platforms that support businesses across the continent and translate discussions into practical outcomes.
‘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,’ Ugwu said.
She said the pan-African direction reflected the need to develop platforms that work for businesses across Africa and ensure that discussions lead to implementation.
The two-day conference will feature keynote addresses and thematic panels covering access to finance and markets, intra-African trade, business expansion, future-ready talent, artificial intelligence, fintech and digital transformation.
It will also feature a Pan-African SME Expo, where businesses can showcase their products to potential buyers, partners and investors, alongside Investor Connect sessions designed to match businesses with investors aligned with their stages of development and sectors.
Olawale Anifowose, director of Programmes and Partnerships at EDC, said the 20th edition reflected the centre’s consistency and the trust the entrepreneurial community had placed in Pan-Atlantic University.
He said the conference’s transition into a pan-African platform would extend EDC’s commitment to supporting SME growth to a wider audience.
For Sterling Bank, one of the supporting institutions, the conference’s emphasis on practical solutions aligns with its efforts to improve access to finance for Nigerian businesses.
The bank recently announced a $200 million SME credit backstop initiative in collaboration with Cascador, designed to address lending risks and expand financing for viable businesses.
Donatus Okpako, chief marketing officer of Sterling Bank, said financial institutions needed to work with other stakeholders to address structural barriers preventing businesses from accessing the financing, markets and opportunities required to grow.
He said the conference would provide a platform for building partnerships aimed at delivering practical results for businesses across Africa.
The conference will take place in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week Nigeria 2026. Participation will be available both in person and online, with registration open through the conference website.