Prime Highlight
- MMC 7.0 in Lagos brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to strengthen fair trade and industrial growth across Africa.
- The summit featured panels, networking, and contests like Pitch2Scale to foster cross-border trade, innovation, and sustainable business growth.
Key Facts
- The two-day event had over 1,000 participants and 50+ speakers, supported by sponsors including Zenith Bank, Nepal Energies, and VFD Group.
- MMC 7.0 partnered with the AfCFTA Secretariat and included representatives from the African Energy Commission, African Union, and WIPO.
Background
More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and policymakers gathered in Lagos for the seventh edition of the Mentor Matchup Challenge (MMC 7.0), a Pan-African summit aimed at strengthening fair trade and industrial growth across the continent.
The two-day event brought together over 50 speakers and received strong backing from development banks, diplomats, energy firms, and private sector leaders. Nepal Energies and Zenith Bank led the sponsor group, with support from institutions such as Providus Bank, VFD Group, African Energy Chamber, Rainoil, Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Waltersmith, BlackCheetah, Sevenup Bottling Company, and others.
MMC 7.0 ran in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat as the official event partner. Participants included chambers of commerce, representatives from the African Union’s African Energy Commission, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and leaders from Africa’s public and private sectors.
Panel sessions explored how to open new trade routes, build stronger value chains, and attract funding for sustainable business growth. They talked about cross-border trade, local manufacturing, using energy responsibly, and getting long-term capital for small and medium businesses. Speakers also highlighted Africa’s creative economy, showing how fashion, culture and intellectual property can grow exports.
The event featured senior figures such as Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, Transcorp President Dr Owen Omogiafo, Rainoil Group MD Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, and other industry heads who linked policy, investment, and entrepreneurship.
MMC 7.0 also celebrated innovation through its Pitch2Scale contest, where MashBabyFood won $10,000. Fashion displays and networking sessions have been added to the programme, creating space for new partnerships.
Convener Ezinne Nwazulu said the summit aims to connect Africa’s talent, capital, and markets to produce real economic results and expand intra-African trade.
