Convener Made in Nigeria Entrepreneur Festival (MINFEST) 2025 Tito Philips, has disclosed the festival would reduce Japa syndrome, address brain drain, and promote entrepreneurship development in the country.

Addressing journalists during a stakeholder meeting in Lagos, Philips said, “we are not just building businesses, we are raising a new generation of entrepreneurs that think global, create locally and amplify our identity. We want to reduce the Japa syndrome, brain drain, and economic migration by building entrepreneurs who thrive not in comfort, but in chaos,”

He recalled how a trip to Canada exposed him to challenges migrants are confronted with.

This experience, he noted, motivated him to revive his blogging platform and subsequently the entrepreneurial revolution.

To him, MINFEST 2025 will focus on three key pillars: MINConference to reshape the mindset of entrepreneurs, MINHonours to celebrate 40 under 40 outstanding entrepreneurs, and MINExpo to showcase 200 Nigerian-made products and services to local and international markets.

On his part, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN Deputy Director, Lagos State Office, Olubunmi Kole-Dawodu, stated that the agency’s core agenda is to grow the nation’s economy by creating a supportive environment for over 40 million MSMEs.

He disclosed the agency has invented a model tagged, “ICSS”—Inspire, Create, Start, Scale – to encourage businesses from ideation to growth stages.

He added there is need for SMEDAN’s state coordinators to actively engage with local government chairpersons.

Kole-Dawodu also added, “this grassroots strategy is crucial. Many MSMEs in these areas lack internet or IT access, so we are working on innovative ways to reach them.”

He recalled one such effort is SMEDAN’s recent partnership with Airtel Nigeria, which aims to improve digital connectivity and business services to entrepreneurs in remote locations.

MINFEST 2025 is slated for October 16 to 17 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.