Diri, Ogbuku Lead Niger Delta Small Enterprises' Summit

Over 1,000 young entrepreneurs are set to converge in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on December 9, 2025, for the 5th Niger Delta Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Summit.

Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, will serve as Chief Host, while the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, will attend as Guest of Honour.

Organised by the Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) and founded by Pan-African entrepreneur Moses Siloko Siasia, the summit aims to strengthen MSMEs as engines of growth and innovation.

Key guests will include Usoro Akpabio of the South South Development Commission (SSDC), Dr. Olasupo Olusi of the Bank of Industry, Ayodeji Sotinrin of the Bank of Agriculture, and business leader George Omoraro.

The initiative has grown into one of the region’s most impactful platforms for enterprise development despite challenges such as infrastructure deficits, bureaucratic bottlenecks and limited financing.

Siasia, in a statement, said this year’s theme, “Enhancing the Role of MSMEs as Drivers of Sustainable Growth and Innovation,” reflects the urgency of repositioning the Niger Delta for a future beyond oil.

He noted that emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, agriculture, renewable energy and information technology offer new pathways for sustainable prosperity.

According to him, the summit has consistently helped address youth unemployment and economic exclusion. He recalled that at the maiden edition in 2021, more than 400 participants accessed the NIRSAL Agricultural Intervention Loan, while NDYP offered grants to several innovative ventures.

This year’s event will feature exhibitions, keynote addresses, panel discussions, mentorship sessions, business-to-business engagements and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening youth-led enterprises. Attendance is strictly by registration and is limited to participants between ages 20 and 45.