Applications open for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners ahead of December 28–30 summit in Bane
Chief Lesi Maol has announced a ₦300 million business grant initiative as part of the second edition of the Ogoni Entrepreneurship and Career Development Summit 2026, in what is expected to be a major boost to entrepreneurship, business development and economic empowerment in Ogoniland.
The three-day summit, scheduled for December 28–30, 2026, at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Park, Bane, will be held under the theme, “From Ideas to Enterprises: Building Careers, Financing Businesses and Transforming Ogoni.”
The ₦300 million grant represents a major component of the initiative, which seeks to expand access to business financing and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop sustainable enterprises. It is intended to support eligible Ogoni entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners with viable business ideas and growth ambitions, subject to the programme’s application and selection criteria.
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The summit will bring together entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals, innovators, investors and aspiring business owners to explore opportunities in enterprise development, career advancement, business financing and economic transformation.
Beyond the grant initiative, the programme is expected to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, mentorship and conversations around building competitive businesses and creating sustainable economic opportunities within Ogoniland.
The initiative is powered by Chief Lesi Maol, whose growing investment in entrepreneurship and youth empowerment reflects an effort to stimulate local enterprise, encourage innovation and strengthen the economic capacity of Ogoni communities.
Interested applicants can access the application portal and obtain further information about the programme through:
https://ogonisummit.org/application
The second edition builds on the vision of positioning entrepreneurship and career development as important drivers of Ogoni’s economic renaissance, with emphasis on turning business ideas into viable enterprises and creating opportunities for sustainable prosperity.
