{
  "id": 18458732,
  "title": "SMEDAN targets 100 millionaires through grants",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/smedan-targets-100-millionaires-through-grants",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T06:45:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/smedan-targets-100-millionaires-through-grants/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has announced its plans to establish 100 new millionaire entrepreneurs through capacity building and financial grants at the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026. The conference, set to take place from November 8th to 10th at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos, will focus on innovation, policy, and market access. SMEDAN's annual gathering aims to connect Nigerian small businesses with essential skills, finance, markets, and institutional support necessary for growth. The conference will feature intensive masterclasses and enterprise funding, providing participants with the necessary skills and capital to launch, enhance, and expand their businesses. These masterclasses will culminate in financial grants for selected entrepreneurs, while the Zero to 100 Pitch Competition will offer additional funding opportunities for promising businesses. The conference's prize pool is N100 million, with disbursements taking place at the conference and another event in northern Nigeria. SMEDAN's Director-General, Charles Odii, emphasized the importance of addressing practical challenges that hinder entrepreneurs from turning their skills into viable businesses. Odii stated that access to capital can significantly change prospects for those lacking tools, and proper pricing, customer attraction, and money management can determine the success of a business and its ability to create jobs. The GROW Nigerian Conference will also host the Nigeria First Fair, a public marketplace where visitors can shop directly from Nigerian small businesses, discover local brands, and meet the entrepreneurs behind their products. The keynote address will be delivered by Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, who will share his expertise in building and expanding a Nigerian enterprise.",
  "summary": "The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has announced plans to create 100 new millionaire entrepreneurs through practical capacity building and financial grants at the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026. In a statement yesterday, SMEDAN said the conference will take place from 8 to 10 November 2026 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}