A startup accelerator and Business school, Jasper SME Hub is set to host small business owners at the annual SMEFest.

The fest is one of the largest gathering of small business owners coming together to learn, connect with investors and build frameworks to boost Africa’s SME GDP.

Founder, Emmanuel Olujobi, said “the SME sector as one of the largest single contributors to the GDP of Nigeria, needs greater attention and support. This is why we are committed to supporting the growth of 100,000 SMEs by 2025, through our Programmes, Products and Partnerships, including initiatives like the SMEFest2024.

“One of the most profound highlights from the SMEFest2023 was the realisation that the biggest mistakes small business owners make is thinking small”.

According to him, this year, the keynote speaker, Special Adviser to the President on Enabling Business Environment Council & Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole MFR, will focus on establishing a culture of enabling SME founders to build their businesses with a growth mindset.

This means focusing on learning, taking risks, and being open to new ideas. It also means creating a supportive environment where small business owners interact with the market and policy markers in real time.

In addition, this year would feature panel sessions on germane topics around growth, regulation and the future of payments, as well as an award of business grant to winners of the Business Ideathon Challenge and the Business Process Automation Hackathon.