The President, Seed Nigeria Network, Lola Ajani, has said that African enterprises possess immense resilience in navigating complex operating environments marked by infrastructure gaps, currency volatility and shifting policies.

Ajani stated this while delivering the welcome address at the Seed Nigeria landmark inaugural summit, Seed G3 2026 (Growth • Grit • Global) in Lagos, where he reflected on the decade-long journey of the Stanford Graduate School of Business initiative in Nigeria and the profound power of peer entrepreneurship.

The conference was anchored on the theme, ‘Resilience to Relevance: Scaling African Enterprises for Global Markets.’

Ajani wondered if survival must always be the greatest achievement of African businesses.

“Seed G3 2026 is designed to push us beyond survival mode, to build institutionalised companies capable of competing internationally, attracting institutional capital and scaling sustainably,” he said.

Ajani highlighted that the network has grown to over 200 members, comprising business leaders actively creating jobs, solving structural problems, and driving economic development. She challenged attendees to leverage the power of the network more deliberately, fostering deeper commercial collaborations and cross-border partnerships rather than relying solely on individual effort.

Gathering over 200 business founders, corporate executives, venture capital investors and policymakers, the two-day hybrid summit marked a dual milestone: hosting the first-ever G3 conference while celebrating 10 years of Stanford Seed’s transformative impact in Nigeria.

Building on the opening mandate, day two of the conference featured high-level keynotes and masterclasses focused on institutional growth and brand equity.

Group Managing Director/CEO of Brandlife Group and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Seed Nigeria, Julius Agenmonmen, delivered a keynote address emphasising the transition from local endurance to international market relevance.

Agenmonmen stressed that global scaling requires robust brand equity, strategic discipline and institutionalised governance structures that outlive their founders. Drawing from decades of marketing and leadership experience, he noted that African brands must earn international trust through consistent value delivery, quality and customer-centric design.

The summit also featured contributions from prominent business and ecosystem leaders, including Chairman of Metis Capital Partners, Hakeem Belo-Osagie; Senator Tokunbo Abiru; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Innocent Ike.

Founding Partner at Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, also contributed perspectives on venture design and capital formation. Stanford Seed faculty member and Managing Director of XPRENEURS Incubator, Martin Giese, delivered the keynote session, ‘Sell to Scale: Building the Revenue Engine for Global Growth,’ sharing insights on the sales capabilities and revenue systems required for sustainable business expansion.

Beyond plenary sessions and masterclasses, Seed G3 2026 featured vibrant business exhibitions showcasing innovative products, services and growth solutions from member enterprises.

Dedicated capital sessions and Investor Deal Rooms provided growth-stage founders with opportunities to engage directly with private equity partners, venture capitalists and institutional lenders, creating avenues for investment discussions and potential partnerships.

Through its inaugural edition, Seed G3 reinforced the importance of peer learning, strategic collaboration, and access to capital in helping African enterprises build the structures and capabilities needed to compete in global markets, while celebrating a decade of Stanford Seed’s work with Nigeria’s business community.