The year’s business continues to gather momentum, with conferences, exhibitions and master classes popping up across Nigeria’s cities. After a lull lasting a couple of months, we are getting into full gear with the business talk, networking, deal making and selling that trade shows are about.
This February, there will be a handful of major events for entrepreneurs, job seekers and business executives in multiple industries. Prominent among these will be the 2019 edition of Social Media Week Lagos, the biggest annual celebration of the digital revolution in Africa. But there’s more going on this month, and we’re presenting you with an array of options, most of them free to attend.
1. Ideas and Execution Conference
Do you have a brilliant business idea- or a heap of them -that you’re finding hard to bring to life? This event might just be the thing that finally sets you on course to make them happen. And i you’re already running an enterprise, you may gain some smart ideas that’ll help you achieve your vision and raise your business’s performance.
The organizers also encourage startup founders, government workers and creatives to attend. They’re working with the belief that the struggle to execute plans isn’t restricted to enterprise building, but is really the Achilles heel of many businesses.
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Time: 9 AM-4 PM
Venue: LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.
2. Social Media Week Lagos
Social Media Week Lagos is Africa’s largest tech and media event. It’s actually a series of events held over the course of a week, all revolving around new media and its role in driving growth and positive change in business, civic society, the arts and other spheres of life.
In 2018, well over 20,000 people from across the globe attended panel discussions, workshops and other shows organized in and around the SMW Lagos campus. It’s expected that this year’s turnout numbers will be even more impressive. The lined-up events should feature top startup founders, big company executives, and well-known figures in media and entertainment. They’ll be lending their voices to the discussions about tech and its impact on aspects of individual and public life.
The theme for the 2019 edition of SMW Lagos is STORIES: With Great Influence Comes Great Responsibility.
Date: Monday February 4 – Friday, February 8, 2019
Time: 8 AM- 6 PM daily
Venue: Landmark Centre, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos
3. Daystar Skill Acquisition Program
For two weeks, the Daystar Christian Center will be running a skill acquisition program on location in Oregun, Lagos. It’s pretty much like a regular intensive skills training event, except that it’s free. You only need to register to join in the sessions. Participants will be trained in any one of these specialities: soft furnishing, photography, web design, cake making, catering, makeup artistry and events decoration.
Date: Monday February 4- Friday February 15
Time: 8 AM-3 PM
Location: Daystar Christian Center, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos
4. The West Africa Trade and Export Finance Conference
If you’re building your own business, you’ll know that access to finance is a crucial ingredient for success in your trade. But securing and maintaining credit lines for this venture (or any other one for that matter) can be quite a challenge.
The West Africa Trade and Export Finance Conference will have business finance experts on hand to discuss the best approaches to take in tackling this issue. They will also be answering questions related to risk, location infrastructure and other matters that typically occupy the minds of entrepreneurs.
Date: Sunday, February 13
Time: 9 AM-6 PM
Venue: Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos
5. Productivity Plus Summit
Organizers of the Productivity Plus Summit describe it as ‘Nigeria’s first personal development fair.’ As such, they’ll be talking personal growth and progress in business and career, wealth creation, health and all things related.
Some of the speakers expected to be at this summit include Tara Fela-Durotoye, CEO House of Tara; Nike Ogunlesi, CEO, Ruff n Tumble; and Arese Ugwu (‘Smart Money Arese’), renowned author and speaker on personal finance issues.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Time: 8 AM-8 PM
Venue: Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos