DBNC 2025: Empowering Nigeria's entrepreneurs and innovators for the future
'When we started this conference five years ago, our goal was simple but bold. We wanted to create a space for open, honest, and forward-thinking dialogue about what it really takes to do business in Nigeria. Five years later, that mission is still at the heart of what we do and the need for it has only grown stronger.'
These words set the tone for DBNC 2025, emphasizing the critical need for businesses in Nigeria to remain resilient and adaptable as they navigate both challenges and opportunities. Uneze's statement echoed the underlying sentiment of the event: Nigeria's business environment may be complex, but it holds immense potential, waiting to be unlocked through collaboration, resilience, and innovation.
A central highlight of DBNC 2025 was the Business Pitch Competition, which showcased the creativity and drive of Nigeria's next generation of entrepreneurs. Four standout startups: ULE HOME, offering sustainable housing solutions; Agristi, leveraging agri-fintech for farmer empowerment; ALLIES, focused on digital tools for informal sector growth; and QIQI Farms, a data-driven agric venture tackling food insecurity, pitched their transformative ideas before a panel of esteemed judges: Ms. Stella Duru (Board Chairman, Zedcrest / Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo), Njideka Jack (Senior Manager, MTN Nigeria), and Dr. Ayo Adegboye (CEO, Arravo).
After an intense session of pitching and deliberation, QIQI Farms emerged as the winner. Their bold approach to improving rural market access and food distribution through logistics innovation and real-time data analytics captured the judges' attention. In addition to securing a financial grant, QIQI Farms received invaluable access to tailored mentorship, strategic partnerships, and critical growth resources.
The Business Pitch Competition was a powerful reminder that even in challenging times, innovation has the potential to thrive. By supporting these entrepreneurs, DBNC is fostering an ecosystem where ideas can grow into tangible impact. Beyond funding, the competition offered a support network that will help nurture young businesses for the long term.
Networking played a vital role in DBNC 2025, providing participants with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, forge new partnerships, and discuss strategies for growth. These networking sessions highlighted the importance of collaboration in Nigeria's business ecosystem. From early-stage founders to seasoned executives, the interactions at DBNC set the stage for potential collaborations that could translate into real business outcomes.
The event also featured a series of dynamic panel discussions, keynote speeches, and expert-led sessions by one nigeria's most influential leaders including Tonye Cole, Fola Aiyesimoju, Paul Onwuanibe, JoEllen Gorg, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji. These sessions addressed critical issues such as securing funding, navigating regulatory changes, and embracing digital transformation. These discussions focused on how businesses can stay agile, adapt to market shifts, and thrive in the evolving business landscape.
The energy at DBNC 2025 was undeniably infectious, with attendees leaving the event not only with fresh knowledge but also with actionable insights, stronger networks, and a renewed sense of purpose. The unwavering support of DBNC's sponsors, partners, and exhibitors was integral to the success of the event, underscoring the collective responsibility to drive change and foster growth in Nigeria's business ecosystem.
As DBNC 2025 draws to a close, one thing is clear: the conference has done more than bring people together. It has ignited new conversations, spurred fresh ideas, and created lasting connections that will continue to shape the future of business in Nigeria. The momentum generated here will fuel the efforts of Nigerian entrepreneurs, equipping them to not only face the future but to lead it with confidence and innovation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Lifting fuel from Dangote refinery costs more than importing from Togo, Dangote reveals
In a scathing indictment of the country's port infrastructure and pricing structure, Dangote revealed that lifting refined petroleum products from the Lekki-based refinery is now more expensive for oil marketers than buying from offshore storage depots in neighboring countries, such as Togo. Speaking bluntly at the just-concluded Global Commodity Insights Conference on West Africa's refined fuel market, regarding the economic inefficiencies afflicting the local market, Dangote cited a slew of port-related fees and regulatory constraints that local merchants confront. At the event, which was jointly hosted by the NMDPRA and S&P Global Commodity Insights in Abuja, Dangote noted that multiple fees at the refinery's loading point and discharge at domestic terminals, which are essentially absent when marketers import gasoline from offshore facilities such as the Lomé Floating Storage Terminal, were to blame. 'In terms of port charges, it is currently more expensive to load a domestic cargo of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery, as customers pay both at the point of loading and the point of discharge. But when they load from Lome, which competes with us, they pay only at the point of discharge. This is simply unfair and unsustainable,' the Nigerian billionaire relayed. As reported by the Punch, after their findings, marketers who source fuel from the Dangote Refinery have to pay these charges. This was also reiterated by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike. 'We don't load in Lomé, but for Nigerian distribution through the coastal route, it is easier to use the vessels here in Nigeria because it is interstate. Most of the international clearance and the rest is not applicable, because you would be able to avoid a lot of charges, both international and local charges,' he stated. 'It is better to load from Dangote via both means. But if you are loading coastal from another country, it is more difficult than when you are loading from Nigeria,' he added. However, some other players have cited the refinery's restrictive sale methods as a reason why there are complications in the supply chain. This point was elaborated on by Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Olufemi Adewole, who noted that the way Dangote conducts business does not benefit most local marketers, particularly small businesses that rely on flexible coastal supply chains. 'Since the advent of Dangote refinery, it has not been smooth sailing at all. We had preliminary meetings with their management. We received promises and assurances that we would be accommodated. We are ready and still willing to patronise Dangote. But the issue is, is Dangote ready to give us the product we want?' he stated. 'You don't get the price upfront,' Adewole explained. 'It is only after you've been cleared that a proforma invoice is issued. Meanwhile, there appears to be a select group Dangote prefers to trade with,' he added.
Entrepreneur
5 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Readers Can Now Access Every Babbel Language Course with This Special Offer
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Being able to speak a second language is a key skill for many entrepreneurs. You can form personal connections with a greater number of customers, negotiote international deals without relying on an expensive translator or an app, and you can travel like a local when it's time to disconnect. Learning a new language can be difficult enough without the time constraints unique to business owners, but it's not impossible. Babbel is a language learning tool that gives you quick, practical lessons in 14 different languages along with an AI-powered conversation partner to practice with. Normally $599, a lifetime subscription to Babbel is now only $159, but that price ends very soon. Become a professional communicator What language do you want to learn first? Babbel gives you lifetime access to lessons in French Spanish German Italian Danish Norwegian Indonesian And that's just a sample. You aren't locked into a single language at any point, so you can learn a few useful phrases across the board or dedicate yourself to becoming fluent in one. Babbel lessons are short, typically running 10 minutes to 15 minutes long. That means you can fit them in between meetings, during your commute, or at home. Lessons run the range of practical topics like dining, shopping, making friends, and conducting business. The speech recognition technology will even give you feedback on your pronunciation, and you can build confidence by talking to the AI conversation partner. This deal ends soon. Use code LEARN by 11:59 p.m. PT on July 24 to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change
Entrepreneur
6 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Dr. Drew and Kim Perell Advise a Founder on How to Fix Her Customer Retention Problem
Get lessons in leadership and setting boundaries from renowned health expert Dr. Drew Pinsky and serial investor Kim Perell on this episode of Entrepreneur Therapy. Amy Beckley, a Ph.D scientist, faced fertility and miscarriage problems due to low levels of the hormone progesterone. After hitting dead ends with traditional fertility tracking, she created Proov, the first FDA-cleared at-home test that helps women track their fertility hormones using a simple urine strip and mobile app. The product worked. Maybe a little too well. The typical customer only sticks around for two months. "We make really effective products that help couples get pregnant," Amy told Dr. Drew Pinsky and Kim Perell on Entrepreneur Therapy, presented by Amazon Business. "Sometimes we get them pregnant too fast, which is great for being a human and for helping people. But not so great for business." So, how does she build customer retention when the very nature of her product means customers no longer need it? Dr. Drew suggests extending the care journey beyond fertility testing. "You need either a partner or something in there so we can actually take care of these problems you're identifying," he says, referencing the perimenopausal issues her customers face that may require ongoing support through supplements, therapeutics, or other interventions. Related: 5 Proven Strategies for Retaining Your Best Customers Perell agrees with the direction, but suggests starting low and going slow. "Don't try to do a lot of partnerships," she says. "Focus on one to two that will have the most value for your business right now." Amy admits that customer retention isn't her only challenge. She talks about her difficulty creating emotional boundaries as the founder of a small company with a deeply personal mission. "When I was building the company," she says, "my friends would tell me, 'If this business fails, it's because you're too nice.' I tend to trust people. I genuinely want to help them, and I give people a lot of chances. That can be really detrimental to the business." Related: The Most Successful Entrepreneurs Know How to Say 'No.' Here's the One Exercise You Need to Learn This Skill. Dr. Drew relates. "I suffer from the same affliction," he says. "You're someone—like me—who experiences yourself through other people. So if we get a lot of negative stuff back, it really gets in. Perell calls this "the disease to please." Their solution? Setting emotional boundaries and reframing decisions in a way that centers on the business, rather than the individual. Perell encourages Amy to ask herself, Is this in the best interest of the company? "Sometimes that means making uncomfortable choices," she warns. But she has a solution for easing the blow when she has to say no. Blame the board. "It takes the pressure off the conversation," she says. "You're not saying no because you don't care; you're saying no because you have a bigger responsibility." It's advice Amy clearly values. "That was amazing," she says at the end of the session. "They had really, really good advice." Watch the episode to learn more about Amy's challenges and the advice Dr. Drew and Perrell give to scale her business. Entrepreneur Therapy is presented by Amazon Business. Smart business buying starts with Amazon Business. Learn more.
