Lagos to host first-ever MSMEs Exclusive & Eko Round City Trade Fair
By Adeola Ogunrinde –
Lagos State Government has announced it will host the maiden edition of the Lagos MSMEs Exclusive and Eko Round City Trade Fair 1.0, a city-wide commercial showcase aimed at strengthening grassroots enterprise and deepening economic inclusion. The week-long fair is scheduled for December 8 to 14 at the National Stadium, Surulere.
The event is organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment in collaboration with Local Governments and LCDAs within the Lagos Central Senatorial District. Participating councils include Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Eti-Osa, and Apapa, along with their respective LCDAs such as Yaba, Coker-Aguda, Itire-Ikate, Ikoyi-Obalende, Apapa-Iganmu, Eti-Osa East, Iru-Victoria Island, and Lagos Island East.
Speaking at a press conference in Ikeja, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Bada-Ambrose, described the fair as a “celebration of enterprise, resilience, creativity and community,” noting that it marks the evolution of the former Eko MSMEs Exclusive Trade Fair into a more inclusive, city-wide event.
She emphasised that MSMEs remain the lifeline of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for 96 percent of businesses nationwide and contributing significantly to employment and GDP. Lagos, she added, reflects this even more strongly, with MSMEs driving the state’s productivity.
The Commissioner outlined five key pillars of the fair: creating an inclusive marketplace for artisans, traders, informal-sector operators and micro-businesses; promoting capacity building through business clinics, workshops and mentorship; strengthening inter-LGA collaboration; providing family-friendly spaces including a children’s play area; and stimulating grassroots economic growth by generating jobs, improving market access, and supporting formalisation.
The fair will feature exhibitions for MSMEs across sectors such as fashion, food processing, home décor, crafts, services and technology, alongside sessions on financial literacy, digital marketing, product standards, business registration and access to credit. Mrs Bada-Ambrose said the initiative is intended to become a long-term platform supporting MSMEs beyond the fair week, with plans for a comprehensive MSME database, continuous business clinics, and stronger value-chain development.
Fair Coordinator Ògbóni Fouad Oki announced that the event is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants, including artisans, fashion designers, food vendors, home-décor producers, and tech service providers.
On behalf of the participating councils, Chairman of Surulere Local Government Yusuf Suleiman commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for backing the initiative, saying the fair would “open new doors of opportunity for MSMEs and strengthen grassroots economic activity across the district.”
