Badagry took a decisive step towards strengthening its local economy as entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals converged for the maiden Badagry Strategy and Business Summit, an initiative designed to help small and medium-scale enterprises prepare, reposition and grow in 2026 and beyond.

Speaking at the event, Oluwafemi #Iroko , a public servant and entrepreneur, said the summit was jointly organised by the #DavidAsogbaFoundation and the #OluwafemiIrokoNetwork to provide practical support for business owners within and beyond Badagry.

According to him, the summit was designed to help entrepreneurs focus on key growth areas, including proper business documentation, access to investment opportunities, international market expansion, and strategic networking with other business owners.

“Our goal is to bring small and medium businesses together, help them plan and strategise for the new year, and ensure they are positioned to prosper,” Iroko said.

He explained that although the summit was initially planned as a Badagry-focused event, it attracted participants from different parts of Lagos, including Bagada and Egonwolu, as well as attendees from outside the state. This, he noted, highlighted the growing interest in business-focused platforms emerging from Badagry.

The organisers also announced plans to make the summit an annual event, with a long-term vision of supporting hundreds of businesses to scale, improve operations, and expand their reach over the next few years.

Beyond the one-day programme, Iroko disclosed that a post-summit business community would be created to enable continuous support, networking, and monitoring of participants’ progress.

“We want to build a community where we can support these businesses after the event, track their growth, and ensure the knowledge shared here translates into real impact,” he said.

Participants described the summit as impactful, noting that it delivered value through practical insights, peer engagement, and forward-looking discussions tailored to the realities of small business owners.