We are a couple of months away from the year’s end, and businesses are beginning to shift into the Christmas sales and stock taking mode. The events taking place in November aren’t strikingly different from what you get at other times of the year, but there’s a sense of preparation for the holidays about some of them.
In November, we’ll be having a big regional startup event, a number of really big fairs, and a conference for people involved with voluntary work in Nigeria. Here, we present you with the best of the month’s business events.
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Lagos International Trade Fair
This event probably needs little introduction. It’s Nigeria’s biggest trade fair, organized annually by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). The ten-day event typically has hundreds of businesses from across Nigeria and beyond taking up spaces and selling their products to tens of thousands of visitors. It brings a festive feel to the Tafawa Balewa Square where it’ll be held.
If you’re in Lagos and you’re hunting for bargains in the leadup to Christmas, you could drop by at the large complex that’ll be housing vendors of the country’s popular brands. You could pick up a fair number of good leads, as well, if you’re interested in linking up with new business opportunities.
Event Details:
Date: Friday 2- Sunday 11 November Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM.
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GTB Fashion Week
November gets its own share of colour, style and variety, with the GTB Fashion Week. It’s two days given to showcasing clothing from Nigerian fashion labels, whether they’re conformist or mould-breaking.
There’s more to this event than models striding to and fro on a runway (although this will be a part of the whole show). Masterclasses will also be held, featuring leading figures in the global fashion industry, who will be on hand to share valuable insights and tips with an audience of fashion entrepreneurs. If this looks like your cup of tea, you may want to be at the show.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday 10- Sunday 11 November Venue: GT Centre, 1 Water Corporation Drive, Victoria Island, Lagos Time: 9:00 AM -5:00 PM
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IGF Expo
Interior designers, property developers, and houseware producers and distributors could find their dream business partners and clients at this conference. At least, that’s what it’s expected to achieve. Furniture, textile and gift merchants are also invited to exhibit their products and connect with other brands from within and outside their industries.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday 13- Thursday 15 November Venue: Landmark Events Center, Victoria Island, Lagos. Time: 9:00 AM -5:00 PM
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The Christian Business Fair
This event is organized by the Catholic Young Adults Association (CYAA) of the Our Lady and Queen Catholic Church, Badore-Ajah, Lagos. The theme of the fair is Leveraging ICT for SME growth in Nigeria; as such, activities at the fair will be primed to encourage small businesses to adopt technological tools and solutions, in order to boost their growth.
The Christian Business Fair should have up to 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services, and over 5,000 attendees in general. Intending participants can also look forward to digital skills training, paper presentations, networking sessions and parleys with angel investors that should take place there as well.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 15- Saturday 17 November Venue: Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Addo Road, Ajah, Lagos. Time: 8:00 AM -5:00 PM
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Simply Nigerian Fair
The Simply Nigerian Fair features exhibitions from vendors offering made in Nigeria products in these shopping categories: fresh produce, food and drink, plants and flowers, home and lifestyle, fashion and footwear, and body care. The organizers promise that visitors will have a lot to feast their eyes on, from brilliant jewellery to native soups. Of course, they’re also expecting a lot of buying and selling there too.
About 100 exhibitors should show up at the fair; that’s a lot of clothes, food and shoes to get. As is the case with other fairs going on around this period, this presents as a good chance to make your Christmas purchases early on. And yes, it’s an opportunity to support local entrepreneurs as well.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday 18 November Venue: 10 Adekunle Lawal, Off Mobolaji Johnson Road, Ikoyi, Lagos Time: 10:00 AM -5:00 PM
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Third Sector Conference
Persons who are active (or interested) in voluntary social impact work are invited to attend this event. This includes Non-Governmental Organizations, social entrepreneurs, think tanks, foundations allied with corporate bodies, and Social Work departments in Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning. They’ll be listening to speakers experienced in the sector, and people who will be sharing inspirational stories and practical insights from the field.
There will also be breakout session aimed at capacity building for attendees.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 29 November Venue: Admiralty Conference Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM