World Entrepreneurs Day (WED) – Zazzau Version 5.0 is Northern Nigeria's foremost community-driven entrepreneurship platform, transitioning into a structured enterprise development ecosystem.
Since 2022, WED has collectively engaged over 1,000 entrepreneurs, professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders across four editions.
Scheduled for October 3–4, 2026, WED 5.0 expands for the first time to a two-day format. Day One introduces four sector-specific Enterprise Pavilions where entrepreneurs engage directly with industry experts. Day Two is dedicated to a Business Pitch Competition, with six pre-selected SMEs competing before a panel of judges for a proposed enterprise grant pool of NGN 3,000,000.
₦12,654,000
Reflects a two-day event with pavilion infrastructure, pitch competition, exhibition, catering, documentation, and M&E.
ZVE is a community-based entrepreneurship organisation founded by Bello Yusuf Yusuf in Zaria. It operates annual convening through WED, monthly knowledge programming through the ZVE Webinar Series, and long-term ecosystem building through partnerships and mentorship.
ZVE is affiliated with the Bello Yusuf Yusuf Innovation and Empowerment Foundation (CAC Reg No. IT 9699423), through which all funds are managed.
What this milestone theme means for our community:
Intentional enterprise development through strategy, systems, financial discipline, leadership, and governance.
The capacity to absorb disruption, adapt to market changes, and continue operating with purpose — the baseline requirement for enterprise survival in Nigeria today.
Inclusive of all productive enterprise: traders, manufacturers, agribusinesses, food entrepreneurs, tech startups, creative professionals, and service providers.
Digital transformation, investment readiness, sustainable growth, and long-term market relevance — built now, before they become unavoidable.
Deliver sector-specific enterprise knowledge through expert-facilitated pavilions.
Build business resilience through access to finance, operational, digital, and market-access strategies.
Improve investment readiness among selected SMEs through a structured pitch competition.
Create direct market access through an Enterprise Exhibition running across both days.
Channel direct enterprise capital to six SMEs through a transparent competitive pitch process.
Produce a post-event impact report documenting measurable outcomes for all stakeholders.
Day One replaces the traditional conference format with four concurrent, sector-specific Enterprise Pavilions. Participants register for a pavilion in their business field to engage directly with industry experts.
Serves: Traders, wholesalers, retailers, and small business owners.
Facilitated by an industry expert covering business model challenges, market opportunities, finance, digital tools, and growth strategy.
Serves: Tech startups, digital services, fintech, and software-based businesses.
Facilitated by an industry expert covering business model challenges, market opportunities, finance, digital tools, and growth strategy.
Serves: Farmers, food entrepreneurs, agro-processors, and input supply businesses.
Facilitated by an industry expert covering business model challenges, market opportunities, finance, digital tools, and growth strategy.
Serves: Fashion designers, photographers, content creators, and arts entrepreneurs.
Facilitated by an industry expert covering business model challenges, market opportunities, finance, digital tools, and growth strategy.
Six pre-selected SMEs pitch before a panel of expert judges. Finalists receive pre-event pitch coaching and compete publicly for a proposed grant pool of ₦3,000,000.
Note: Grant figures are proposed and subject to confirmed funding. Disbursement is strictly managed by Zazzau Version Entrepreneurs (ZVE).
Total participants (both days)
Enterprise pavilions (sector-specific)
Exhibition participants minimum
SME pitch finalists
Experts and mentors engaged
Impact report produced post-event
WED 5.0 offers structured partnership opportunities positioned as an investment in enterprise development, not simply event support.
Based on current Zaria market rates (Subject to revision after procurement)
WED 5.0 is the most structured, most practical, and most directly capital-connected edition in the platform's five-year history. Partner with us today.
