The Federal Government has unveiled plans to provide Nigerian entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives and businesses with opportunities for international exposure, investment and commercial partnerships at the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend in Lagos.
The initiative, which will be implemented through a pavilion known as the Presidential Suite, is being presented by the Office of the President to connect promising homegrown enterprises with international markets and potential business partners.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development, Chalya Shagaya, said the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shagaya explained that the programme, tagged the Renewed Hope Enterprise Bridge Initiative (RHEBi), would leverage the Presidential Suite to link selected Nigerian businesses with international investors, buyers, distributors and strategic commercial partnerships.
She described the initiative as a deliberate effort to use the Presidency’s institutional platform to bridge the gap between Nigerian enterprises and global market opportunities.
According to the statement, participating businesses were selected based on their innovation, creativity, growth potential and contributions to Nigeria’s international reputation through their products, services and entrepreneurial achievements.
The pavilion will showcase enterprises across various sectors, including visual arts, fashion, lifestyle, beauty, crafts, sports, animation, agriculture and innovation.
Products and innovations expected to feature include locally grown coffee, Nigerian-made chocolate, contemporary fashion, indigenous pottery, leather goods, beauty and lifestyle products, animation, sporting innovations and botanical designs.
The Presidency said the initiative was designed to promote local value addition, preserve indigenous craftsmanship and strengthen the commercial viability and export potential of Nigerian-made products.
It noted that although many Nigerian businesses possess the capacity to compete internationally, they often face challenges such as limited visibility, inadequate business networks, restricted market access and a lack of commercial partnerships.
The statement described the Presidential Suite as more than an exhibition pavilion, presenting it as a platform for enterprise development, national visibility, market access and the promotion of Nigerian-made products and homegrown innovation.
It added that the initiative would bring government, private-sector partners and local businesses together to create opportunities for enterprises to expand beyond their immediate markets.
The Federal Government further said the programme would reinforce support for entrepreneurship across different sectors while promoting local production, job creation, value addition and export development.
The 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend is scheduled to hold from November 5 to 8 at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos.