Ondo hosts Global Entrepreneurship Festival

With the drive to turn Akure, Ondo State capital, into an economic hub, the state is set to play host to entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers during the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) in November.

According to the Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Dr. Summy Smart Francis, the festival will focus on some of the planet’s most pressing issues, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

While revealing this in Akure, Francis, who is also the project lead for the Global Entrepreneurship Festival, maintained that the event will be attended by participants across the world, adding that Akure is, however, set to become the epicentre of entrepreneurial innovation.

He said: “Over three impactful days, more than 5,000 participants will converge for conferences, while 15,000 are expected to attend the closing concert on the final day.

“Among the 12 concurrent events planned are networking sessions, business pitches to investors and venture capitalists, an awards gala, an innovation and robotics expo, a hackathon, art and creative exhibitions, a trade fair, a global leadership forum, an international women’s congress, a fashion show, and a grand closing concert.

“The festival is designed to address Africa’s challenges and shift mindsets,” Dr. Francis remarked. “This event is not just about addressing poverty; it’s about transforming the way we think about entrepreneurship.”

On his part, a member of the GEF Board and Chairman of the Entrepreneurship Village, Dan Walkovitz, stated that the festival will build upon the outcomes of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA2024).

He emphasised that the festival’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Poverty Eradication through Entrepreneurship,” was designed to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Walkovitz said: “GEF will bring together the brightest minds in business, innovation, technology, and creativity for an extraordinary convergence of ideas and inspiration,” Walkovitz added.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, emphasised that “entrepreneurship is a powerful tool to combat poverty globally. With our rich resources and business-friendly environment, our state is proud to host this groundbreaking event.”