Northern Entrepreneurs, Investors Brainstorm On Exploring Regional Economic Potential

Thousands of entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors from across Northern Nigeria recently converged on the Arewa Festival 2025, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage and economic potential.

They agreed that there are numerous opportunities in the region waiting to be tapped, even as investors pledged to continue supporting resilient entrepreneurs in the area, enabling their businesses to expand, create jobs, generate wealth, and ultimately eradicate poverty.

According to the managing director of Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, Dr Olawale Anifowose, “the Arewa Festival is a significant milestone in our efforts to promote economic growth and cultural revitalisation in Northern Nigeria. We believe that this event has the potential to unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors, and we are committed to making it an annual event.”

The festival also provided a platform for dignitaries, including Ambassador Tomas Vyprechticky, Czech Republic Ambassador to Nigeria, and Mrs Uche Uzoebo, MD of Sanef Limited, to share their insights and perspectives on the region’s economic potential.

The festival, convened by Tripoint Academy for Tourism and Enterprise Development in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Lagos, was a resounding success, attracting over 30,000 attendees from across the 19 northern states.

The event featured a dynamic marketplace where entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their products and services, as well as masterclasses on entrepreneurship, cultural performances, and fashion showcases.

The festival also launched AREWATECH, a long-term development initiative aimed at activating competitive agricultural value chains, improving inter-state and cross-border trade, and strengthening youth employment and entrepreneurship.

The Arewa Festival 2025, according to experts, has set a new benchmark for economic and cultural development in Northern Nigeria, and its impact is expected to be felt for years to come. With plans to extend the festival to other parts of Nigeria and deepen the implementation of AREWATECH, they said, the future looks bright for this region.