Business leaders and experts have discussed various pathways and strategies towards building resilient and profitable businesses in Nigeria. This happened during the recently-held Entrepreneurship Development and Growth Excellence (EDGE) conference, organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI ) Lekki Royale.
JCI is a foremost global network of young leaders that’s creating leadership development opportunities for them with presence in over 116 countries and 110 years in existence.
Held across two days—virtually on May 9 and physically on May 10, 2025—the conference drew over 400 in-person attendees and more than 700 virtual participants. Themed “Building Resilient & Profitable Businesses: From Startup to Scale,” the event featured five high-impact sessions focused on leadership, finance, marketing, and digital transformation.
Speaking at the event, JCI Lekki Royale President, Dr. Hassan Ismail, noted, “EDGE is not just a conference—it’s a commitment to transforming entrepreneurial mindsets. We believe that young people, when empowered with the right tools and knowledge, can build businesses that not only survive, but thrive.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Olumide Emmanuel, CEO of Common Sense Group, pointed out the importance of financial literacy and values-based leadership. “You don’t build a sustainable business by chasing trends—you build it by applying principles that work across generations,” he said.
He also urged entrepreneurs to adopt personal discipline, long-term thinking, and intentional mentorship as foundations for growth.
Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye, CEO of Caladium Consulting, inspired the audience with actionable strategies. “Building a resilient business is not about doing what everyone does but doing something differently,” he stated.
Speaking also at the event were JCI Senator Adetola Akinola, who advised that “Dont build businesses around yourself, put structures in place”, an JCI Senator Ibraheem Tiamiyu who handle Strategies for customer acquisition and retention. “Your first impression really matters in customer retention,” he said.
The EDGE 2025 program also featured a business pitch competition, where three entrepreneurs received EDGE Business Seed Grants after competing among ten finalists. The finalists presented innovative ideas across industries including technology, fashion, food, and sustainability, with winners selected based on impact potential, feasibility, and clarity of vision.
Other speakers at the event included; Mr. Kingsley Ifoga, General Manager of Baker Industries Ltd, Mr. Bright UK Ukwenga, CEO of Scribe Tribe Africa, Mrs. Julie Obi, CEO of Djulies Place, Dr. Timothy Aluko, Director 2025 Projects and Programmes, and Mr. Uche Ugbor, GMD of Ark Technologies Group.
Participants praised the event for its relevance and execution. Many described the sessions as eye-opening, with real-life business cases and tools they could immediately apply.
The conference concluded with plans for launching the EDGE Alumni Network, a monthly webinar series, and continued business development support for outstanding participants. Planning is already underway for EDGE 2026.
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