Determined to further buoy the nation’s economy, the organisers of the Muslim Economic Summit (MES) are perfecting plans for the maiden edition of the summit.

The summit tagged MES 1.0 aligns with national priorities of creating jobs, supporting businesses, and creating finance to help SMEs and start-ups grow their business.

Speaking at a pre-event media parley in Lagos, President, Muassasat Nasrul IIm Wa Da’awat Foundation (MNIDF), Alhaji Ibraheem Olayinka Adigun, said the idea behind the summit was to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) and start-ups to grow ethically.

According to him, the event, billed to hold January 17 to 18, at the University of Lagos, DIL Main Auditorium, is designed to ignite a new wave of economic empowerment, skills development, and collaboration across Nigeria’s Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

With the theme “Faith, Finance & the Future: Empowering Youths, Women & Businesses for a Prosperous Future,” he said the summit will bring together policy experts, Islamic finance professionals, entrepreneurs, scholars, women leaders, and youth innovators for a period of learning, networking, and practical empowerment.

The event will feature keynote lectures, panel discussions, plenary sessions, a Waqf fund launch, certificate presentations, and a trade fair showcasing halal products and services.

Adigun said: “The Muslim Economic Summit is about building a future where no one is left behind. We are creating a generation of Muslim entrepreneurs, professionals, and innovators who can compete globally while remaining true to Islamic values. This is a call to our youth, women, and business owners to seize this opportunity for transformation.”

One of the summit’s most remarkable components is the Pre-Summit Empowerment Training Programme, targeted at training over 1,000 youths and women in high-impact skills such as digital marketing, solar installation, mini-import/export, and urban farming.

The participants will receive certificates of completion during the summit, marking the start of their journey toward financial independence and ethical entrepreneurship.

Chief Executive Officer of Modo Ante Consulting, the event’s management and communications partner, Joko Okupe, described the initiative as a model of faith-driven empowerment. “MES 1.0 embodies practical empowerment. It’s where faith meets innovation – where we equip our people with skills, networks, and resources that lead to a better life. We encourage everyone – especially young people and women – to take advantage of this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.”

Adigun added that: “The organisers have positioned the summit as a transformative learning experience for all participants, offering: Inspirational lectures from top scholars and business leaders, networking opportunities with industry professionals and financial institutions, launch of the Sustainable Waqf Fund to finance future empowerment projects, and a trade fair linking entrepreneurs, distributors, and halal brands.”

Attendance is open to all interested Muslim and non-Muslim professionals, youth, women, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and government representatives across the country; and participation is free but requires registration.