Global Entrepreneurship week 2026

Entrepreneurship remains a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, innovation, poverty reduction and sustainable development. In Nigeria, particularly in emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems such as Cross River State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a significant role in supporting livelihoods, creating employment opportunities and stimulating local economic activities.

However, many entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners continue to face challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate business development support, poor market linkages, limited access to technology, insufficient entrepreneurial education and weak connections to relevant business support institutions.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a worldwide initiative that celebrates and promotes entrepreneurship by connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, policymakers, educators, business support organisations and other ecosystem stakeholders.

In line with this global movement, GEW Calabar 2026 is designed as a week-long entrepreneurship engagement platform that will bring together entrepreneurs, students, business leaders, women in business, government representatives, investors and other stakeholders to explore opportunities, share knowledge, build partnerships and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cross River State.

With the theme "Entrepreneurs Thrive Here," GEW Calabar 2026 seeks to demonstrate that entrepreneurship can flourish when individuals have access to the right knowledge, networks, opportunities, enabling policies and support systems.

The programme will feature a series of activities, including an entrepreneurship awareness walk, school tours, a women-in-business engagement, a stakeholders' meeting, an open market exhibition, an MSME conference, and a dinner and awards night.