… EDC relaunches flagship event as Pan-African SME Conference to tackle continental trade, finance, and talent gaps
By Rashidat O. Okunlade | Lagos
For 19 years, the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University has brought Nigeria’s business community together at its annual SME Conference. This year, the conference reaches its 20th edition with a new name and a continental reach: the Pan-African SME Conference.
The two-day event is scheduled to hold on November 16 and 17, 2026, at the MTN Plaza Rooftop, 1 Awolowo Road, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Nigeria 2026.
It is expected to draw more than 500 delegates from over 10 African countries, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, corporate leaders, development partners and ecosystem builders.
The conference is organised by the EDC, 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.
‘Beyond Talk, A Focus on Execution’
The move to a pan-African platform reflects how far the conversation has come. Over two decades, EDC has helped build a stronger support system for Nigerian entrepreneurs through education, expert advisory, research, business support and policy engagement.
The Centre recognises that across Africa, small businesses still face the same barriers to growth: access to finance, markets, talent, infrastructure, supportive policy, and room to trade across borders. The 20th edition takes that conversation beyond Nigeria’s borders and beyond talk, with a deliberate focus on execution.
Speaking on the rationale behind the pan-African direction, Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, Head of Alumni Engagement and Support Services at EDC, Pan-Atlantic University, said:
“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.”
A Focus on Execution
Themed “Beyond Ecosystems: Building Platforms That Help African Businesses Thrive,” the conference will feature keynote addresses and thematic panels that spotlight critical issues shaping the future of African businesses.
These include access to finance and markets, expanding intra-African trade, scaling businesses, building future-ready talent, and harnessing AI, fintech, and digital transformation for growth.
Beyond the panels, the convening includes:
A Pan-African SME Expo: Where businesses can showcase products to buyers, partners, and investors.
Investor Connect Sessions: Designed to match businesses with investors aligned to their stage and sector.
“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,” said Dr. Olawale Anifowose, Director, Programs and Partnerships, EDC.
Sterling Bank’s Push for SME Financing
For Sterling Bank, one of the conference’s supporting institutions, the emphasis on practical solutions aligns with its ongoing 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 access to financing for viable businesses.
Donatus Okpako, Chief Marketing Officer of Sterling Bank, stressed the need for greater collaboration in addressing the barriers to SME growth.
“We have spent years discussing the potential of African SMEs, but the real measure of progress is how many of these businesses can access the financing, markets, and opportunities they need to grow. At Sterling, we believe financial institutions have a responsibility to do more than provide capital. We must work with other stakeholders to address the structural challenges holding businesses back. That is why platforms like the Pan-African SME Conference are important. They create opportunities to move beyond conversations and build the partnerships that can deliver meaningful results for businesses across Africa,” he said.
Registration Details
Participation is available both in person and online. Registration is open at www.panafricansmeconference.com. Organisations interested in partnering with the conference or exhibiting at the SME Expo can find details on the website or contact the conference team.
Why It Matters
For 20 years, the EDC’s SME Conference has been the premier gathering for Nigeria’s small business ecosystem. But the decision to rebrand and expand its scope to a pan-African level comes at a critical time for the continent’s economic trajectory.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has opened up a market of 1.3 billion people, yet intra-African trade remains frustratingly low. A significant reason for this is that SMEs, the engines of job creation across the continent are often too fragmented, undercapitalized, and isolated to take advantage of cross-border opportunities.
By bringing together delegates from over 10 African countries, the Pan-African SME Conference is actively creating the network effects necessary for continental trade. The focus on “platforms” rather than just “ecosystems” is also instructive. Ecosystems are the environments in which businesses operate; platforms are the tools, networks, and infrastructures that allow them to scale.
The involvement of Sterling Bank highlights a crucial shift in the financial sector’s mindset. A $200 million SME credit backstop is not just corporate social responsibility; it is a strategic investment in the future of the banking sector’s customer base. If SMEs cannot access credit, they cannot grow, and if they cannot grow, banks cannot expand their commercial lending portfolios.
The challenge now is execution. As the organisers rightly noted, Africa does not need another forum where challenges are merely discussed; it needs platforms where deals are closed, investments are made, and businesses are scaled. The Pan-African SME Conference has positioned itself to be exactly that.
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