Connectnigeria Articles

In partnership with Union Bank, Hot FM Lagos and Kunle Ladejobi & Co., Connect Nigeria’s annual Top 100 Emerging SMEs campaign kicked off in earnest on 23rd September 2019.

Launched in 2018, the aim of the campaign is to present the most authentic list of emerging businesses and startups from various industries, bringing to the fore the immense achievements and successes of those who are starting and growing businesses in Nigeria.

Connect Nigeria, through its Top 100 Emerging SMEs campaign, seeks to create a platform to project and celebrate these businesses working against the odds to add to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product and create employment.

The businesses to be nominated will be drawn from 29 categories, some of which include Agriculture, Fashion & Style, Health, Real Estate and Software. Nominees under each category must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission or have a visible online presence. The business should be scalable, demonstrate financial understanding, have outstanding leadership and offer high quality services or products, amongst other requirements. These criteria are simple litmus test to ensure that the businesses have proper systems and structure in order to ensure sustainability.

In the 2018 edition, thousands of businesses were nominated and one hundred businesses were recognized, with 63,000 Nigerians voting in the campaign. Some of our 2018 winners, like CEO of Transfurd Limited, Oginni Tolulope, have gone on to garner global recognition. The idea is to beam the spotlight on these businesses in order to stimulate conversations and create linkages with suppliers, policy makers, investors from within and outside Nigeria.

Everyone is welcome to participate by nominating a business today to become one of the Top 100 Emerging SMEs. Let us celebrate the unsung heroes of the economy, the small and medium enterprises.

Nominate and vote for your top businesses here. Nominations end 13th of December 2019.