Abuja: Organisers of the 2026 National Fair on Trade, Culture and Skills for Women and Youth have inaugurated a strategic advisory board to strengthen women and youth entrepreneurship. The inauguration of the board is also intended to support policies capable of driving productivity and economic growth.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the fair is targeting 1,000 exhibitors and training for more than 1,000 youths in marketable skills at the second edition of the event. The convener of the fair, Mr. Jeremiah Agala, announced at the inauguration that the board comprised professionals and industry leaders. He stated, “We are targeting about 1,000 exhibitors, an increase from more than 400 exhibitors recorded at the maiden edition, while 1,000 youths will receive practical skills training in various fields.” The fair aims to bring together women entrepreneurs, young innovators, policymakers, development partners, and investors from across the country to promote business opportunities and national development.
Mr. Agala called on state governments, development partners, international organisations, and the private sector to partner with the organisers by sponsoring women and youths from their states to participate in the programme. He added that the advisory board was established to provide strategic direction and mobilise stakeholders toward the successful hosting of the event scheduled for November 10 to November 14.
Co-convener Mrs. Titilayo Adeoye highlighted the cultural component of the fair, describing culture as a vital asset for promoting national unity, tourism, and economic development. Adeoye noted that the fair will provide a platform for women and youths to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through traditional arts and crafts, fashion, cuisine, music, dance, and other creative expressions. She encouraged young Nigerians to leverage the country’s cultural diversity as a source of innovation, employment, and wealth creation.
Mr. Chinecherem Izuakor, leading the skills component of the initiative, mentioned that the fair would expose participants to practical, market-driven skills required to thrive in today’s economy. He listed areas of training to include digital technology, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, graphic design, content creation, agriculture, agribusiness, fashion, renewable energy, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership. Izuakor emphasized that the initiative would also connect participants with mentors, investors, employers, and business partners to enhance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
On the trade pillar of the initiative, Mrs. Ivie Ogiemwonyi stated that the fair would provide a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their products, attract investors, establish partnerships, and access new markets. She noted that many women and young people-owned businesses face challenges, including limited access to finance, markets, and business networks despite having innovative products and services. Ogiemwonyi urged members of the Strategic Advisory Board to leverage their professional networks to create opportunities for participating entrepreneurs.
Chief Zainab Mohammed, Focal Person of the Nigeria Platform, 17th World Social Forum (WSF 2026) Coordination Team, explained that the advisory board was constituted following lessons learnt from the maiden edition of the fair. She said the board comprised experienced women drawn from politics, civil society organisations, entrepreneurship, business, and other professional sectors to provide strategic guidance for the event. Mohammed noted that organisers were targeting between 2,000 and 3,000 participants from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that efforts were being made to improve logistics, including the use of more indoor exhibition facilities.
Among the stakeholders who pledged support for the initiative was Mrs. Priscilla Utenwojo of Tecill Homes Limited. Utenwojo committed to empowering women and youths with practical skills, which she stated remained one of the most effective ways of reducing unemployment and improving livelihoods. She mentioned her ‘Project 300’ initiative, which was training young Nigerians in marketing and entrepreneurship to enable them to achieve financial independence.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of Black Origin Export Company, Alhaji Sani Garba, stressed the need to invest in young people through skills development, describing them as critical drivers of national development. Garba encouraged youths to embrace unity, innovation, and collaboration to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth.
In her remarks, the Founder of the A-Hive Community of Women, Khadija Yusuf, commended the initiative, describing it as a platform that would enable more women to develop their skills, build successful businesses, and achieve economic independence.