- The Connect Nigeria E-Business Fair 2018 is the 6th edition, not the seventh. There was no fair in 2012 and the Fair that was slated to hold on the 18th of October 2014, was cancelled, due to the threat of Ebola outbreak that year.
- The first ever business fair was organised on December 10, 2011, as a trade fair with mainly exhibitors and attendees, no speakers or discussion forums.
- The first two Business Fairs in 2011 and 2013 lasted from 9 am – 9 pm, while in 2016, the duration was from 9 am – 7 pm, and in 2017, it continued from 9 am – 4 pm. The closing time may vary, but the starting time is always constant. This year, the business fair is from 9 am – 7 pm.
- The following brands have consistently sponsored the Connect Nigeria business fair since it began in 2011: Bellanaija.com, Printivo, Next Day Site, Etisalat and Heritage Bank.
- There is usually a raffle draw segment at the Fairs. You can get as many tickets as you want for a chance to enter the competition to win gadgets and other prizes. Visit http://www.connectnigeria.com/bizfair/2018/raffle-draw/ for what you need to know to participate in this year’s draws.
- The first ever Business fair in 2011 was held in Protea Hotel, Awolowo road, beside Ikoyi Boat Club, Lagos. But since 2013 to date, it has been hosted at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
- The organiser of this Business Fair is Connect Nigeria, Nigeria’s most innovative Information Search portal. The business fair is just a physical expression of the core aim of Connect Nigeria, which is to connect people and business with information that helps to improve businesses and general personal well being.
- The following brands can be counted on to join the exhibitions at every Connect Nigeria business fair – Zima Fashion, Samsung, Microsoft, GT Bank, Jiji and Enplug amongst others.
- Sponsorship comes in three packages – platinum, gold and silver. Visit http://connectnigeria.com/bizfair/2018/sponsor-exhibit.html to know more about the benefits of each.
- Different arms of the government especially the Lagos state government has been involved in the business fairs since 2013.
- Business owners from all over Nigeria and other countries come to Lagos to attend the Connect Nigeria Business Fair.
- The keynote address of the 2013 business fair was by the then Central Bank of Nigeria governor and current Emir of Kano state Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. It was delivered by the Mr Olusuyi Adaramewa, the deputy director of the CBN then.
- You can download the resource materials shared by some of the speakers at the 2016 Connect Nigeria business fair at http://connectnigeria.com/bizfair/2016/
- There are information booths set up by Connect Nigeria staff to help out with directions and any necessary information needed during the fair.
- As at 2017, the objective of the Business Fair was to empower 5,000 SMEs and MSMEs across Nigeria with skill, knowledge and information/insights to grow their business using technologies. But as at 2018, the vision has become more prominent to reaching 1 Million SMEs and MSMEs across Nigeria.
- Every year the number of attendees increase exponentially. At their inception in 2011, the Business Fair was attended by just 500 persons; then it grew to 2000 people by 2013. Subsequent years after, the recorded a turn out went from 5000people in 2015, 7000 people in 2016, to 8000 people in 2017. This year, we are expecting a minimum of 10,000 business owners to be in attendance. This is what makes it the biggest SME gathering in Africa.
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