The 2026 Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-LED) Trade Festival has commenced in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, with business stakeholders highlighting entrepreneurship, market access and enterprise development as critical drivers of economic growth and wealth creation.
The four-day event, held at the Ibom-LED Centre, brings together entrepreneurs, manufacturers, artisans, creatives, investors, corporate buyers and consumers on a common platform designed to foster networking, collaboration, business expansion and investment opportunities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, Mrs. Hauwa Liman, said that while more women were embracing entrepreneurship, many still faced challenges related to funding, capacity development and access to strategic business networks.
Mrs. Liman noted that many of the products on display possessed the quality and potential to compete favourably in national and international markets, and encouraged participants to leverage the trade festival for visibility, collaboration, training and business growth.
The Team Lead of Ibom-LED, ImoAbasi Jacob, said the initiative aligned with Governor Umo Eno’s vision of positioning Akwa Ibom as a preferred destination for investment and enterprise, adding that the administration had continued to create access for investors to establish businesses in the state and contribute to economic growth.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Offiong Offor, commended the organisers for creating a platform that promotes enterprise development and encourages entrepreneurs to be intentional about building sustainable businesses.
She added that capacity-building initiatives such as the trade festival were essential for strengthening entrepreneurs across different sectors, including agriculture.
In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurship Development, Mrs. Meflyn Anwana, highlighted the state’s investments in small businesses through training programmes, loan schemes, equipment support initiatives and other interventions aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
The trade festival is expected to feature exhibitions, business networking sessions, enterprise development trainings and investment-focused engagements aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, market access and sustainable economic growth in Akwa Ibom State.
