By Abiodun JIMOH
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Small-Scale Enterprise Lab (SSE Lab), Adesola Jimmy-Eboma, is set to host the second edition of the MBA Business Showers, designed to celebrate graduating entrepreneurs from the Cohort 2 program and deepen national dialogue on the evolving role of MSMEs in Nigeria’s economy.
Themed “Innovation. Inclusion. Impact: Redefining MSMEs in the Nigerian Economy,” the event will hold on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
The event will feature keynote addresses by Mr. Charles Odii, Director-General and CEO of SMEDAN, and Ms. Esther Obiekwe, Group Head, Retail & SME Banking, NOVA Bank.
A fireside chat session will also feature distinguished speakers including Dr. Bunmi Kola-Dawodu (State Manager, SMEDAN); Dr. Meksley Nwagboh (Divisional Head, Marketing & Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc); Afolabi Solebo, Esq. (General Manager, LASCOPA); Dr. Ayomide Olofinjana (Founder & CEO, Florence Richards Africa); and Adanna Uche (Founder & CEO, Ady’s Agro Processing Ltd.), moderated by Mrs. Adebisi Odeleye, Founder of Moore Organics.
Jimmy-Eboma noted that participants will examine how policymakers, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs can collaborate to unlock financing, strengthen product quality, improve consumer protection, and enhance international competitiveness.
According to her, “Nigeria’s potential lies within her people. If each state transforms local resources into finished goods—cassava into packaged flour, hibiscus into export tea, shea butter into global beauty products—we can truly rewrite our economic story.”
She described the MBA Business Showers as “a platform spotlighting innovation and entrepreneurial excellence within Nigeria’s small-scale manufacturing space.”
Powered by SSE Lab, the Manufacturing Business Accelerator (MBA) is a 90-day intensive transformation program for product-based founders and micro-manufacturers. It guides participants through conceptualization, validation, branding, packaging, compliance, and market launch, turning raw ideas into competitive, made-in-Nigeria brands.
“Through the MBA Business Showers, we’ve seen traders, artisans, and dreamers evolve into structured, compliant, export-ready businesses in just 90 days,” she said. “This is a statement of possibility.”
The Cohort 2 Graduation and Business Showcase will feature entrepreneurs presenting market-ready products across food processing, lifestyle, beauty, and wellness industries. Guests will also experience the Innovation Showcase and Market Walk, where they can explore products, interact with founders, and discover partnership and investment opportunities.
Jimmy-Eboma revealed that Cohort 3, themed “The Next Frontier,” will be unveiled during the event, introducing new mentorship, financial literacy, and business development initiatives. On-site registration and scholarship slots will also be available.
“The MBA Business Showers go beyond graduation—it’s about nurturing a generation of entrepreneurs who believe in Nigerian resources, creativity, and excellence,” she added.
She concluded that SSE Lab’s vision is to position small-scale manufacturers not just as participants but as drivers of Nigeria’s economic transformation, powering innovation, job creation, and export diversification.
The 2025 edition promises to be both celebratory and catalytic—a vibrant convergence of innovation, dialogue, and inspiration shaping the future of Nigerian enterprise
