The Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking market access, policy alignment, and innovation-driven growth for small businesses following its active participation at the just-concluded GROW Nigerian: The National MSME Conference 2026.
Held from November 8 to 10, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, the three-day national convening was envisioned by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with GIZ, hosted by the Lagos State Government, and co-hosted by Ecobank.
Leading the Cross River State delegation was Great Ogban, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of CRSMEDA, who engaged federal policymakers, development partners, and private-sector leaders on practical frameworks to accelerate subnational enterprise competitiveness.
Themed “The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access,” the 2026 edition brought together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, and top government officials across five thematic tracks—Finance and Capital Access, Markets and Export Readiness, Policy and Business Environment, Digital Adoption and Technology, and Workforce Solutions.
Prominent government officials, legislators, and heads of federal and state agencies present at the conference included Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry; Charles Odii, Director-General and CEO of SMEDAN; Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); Oluwaseun Faleye, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State; and Hon. Abdulganiyu Vinod Obasa, Executive Chairman, Agege Local Government
Speaking on the sidelines of the event,
Great Ogban emphasized that Cross River State’s participation reflects the administration’s resolve to connect local micro, small, and medium enterprises with national value chains, export readiness support, and institutional financing.
“Platforms like GROW Nigerian are vital because they bring subnational enterprise agencies directly into the room where national regulatory, financing, and trade policies are shaped,” Ogban stated. “For Cross River State, our priority is ensuring that the regulatory reliefs, digital tools, and market linkages discussed here translate into tangible growth for our local entrepreneurs, agro-processors, and creative businesses.”
