By: Odieh Ramon.

At least ten small and medium-scale (SMEs) business owners from the Niger Delta region were awarded business grants worth millions of naira on Tuesday to add more value to their trades.

The deserving winners, with various business value chains including fashion design, agro-processing Enterprises, and many more, were announced during the 5th edition of the Niger Delta Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Summit.

The summit, held at PEE’S HUB Event Place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was themed “Enhancing the Role of MSMEs as Drivers of Sustainable Growth and Innovation.”

Organized by the Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP), the event brought together founders, industry leaders, and policymakers to address the evolving landscape of small businesses in the Niger Delta.

In his opening address, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, convener of the event, remarked that over the years, the Niger Delta Young Professionals have empowered a lot of young people in the region with about seventy percent success, as most beneficiaries of their grants have made significant progress in their businesses.

He stated that the future of the region lies in the hands of young people, stressing the need for youths to be intentional about their development and never to be deterred by challenges.

Mr. Siasia expressed appreciation to the Bayelsa State government as well as other partners and individuals who supported this year’s summit, assuring that NDYP will continue to support initiatives that will impact positively on the lives of young people in the Niger Delta region.

Delivering his keynote address, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, charged entrepreneurs, especially youths, to work hard and smart if they want to succeed.

He noted that the event would provide participants with the opportunity to learn essential business management skills and lauded Moses Siasia for the initiative.

Governor Diri said the state government has invested heavily in the development of MSMEs, assuring that the incumbent administration is determined to support initiatives that will encourage youth empowerment.

According to him, “Every individual out there is a potential customer. There is no contentment in business. At every level you find yourself, there are other levels to explore.”

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, also revealed that the government is planning to train more entrepreneurs to mentor others intending to go into business.

Other speakers at the event, including George Omararo, Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, Rt. Hon. Tonye Isenah, Josephine Itonyo, and Ayodeji Sotirin urged entrepreneurs to embrace technology as a tool for expansion rather than a threat.

They further highlighted funding opportunities and encouraged participants to build trust through their business practices, noting that small businesses remain the engine of national economic growth.

A major highlight of the summit was a vibrant panel discussion featuring young business leaders and founders such as Harriet Edide, Siloko Pereowei Prince, Bruce Lucas, David Osadolor, Ekemini Udo, and Blessing Asokomeh.

They explored challenges faced by MSMEs, ranging from regulatory hurdles to infrastructure gaps, and proposed collaborative solutions.

Discussions also centered on the role of digital commerce and youth-led enterprises in shaping the future of business in the region. Audience members engaged through live question-and-answer sessions, sharing insights and raising industry-specific concerns.

The summit’s boot camp segment offered practical workshops where participants engaged in activities such as product design, financial modeling, pitch preparation, and marketing strategy development.

Facilitators provided one-on-one mentoring, enabling entrepreneurs to refine their ideas and improve their business plans.

Lawson Ebimene, a fashion entrepreneur, described the summit as “a game changer,” noting that the boot camp helped her restructure her pricing model.

Livingston Charles, founder of a small agro-processing startup, said the panel discussion opened his eyes to new market opportunities.

“I now understand how to scale responsibly and explore export channels,” he remarked.