Over 700 SMEs gather for Lagos Caladium bootcamp
More than 700 entrepreneurs gathered in Lagos for the eighth Caladium SME Bootcamp, with additional participants joining remotely to address survival challenges, including intellectual property protection, capital access, and digital market positioning. Co-founder Ayo Bankole Akintujoye highlighted the program’s mission to provide small enterprises with resources typically reserved for larger corporations, noting that participants have built sustainable operations through connections and insights gained at the annual gathering.
Legal consultant Oyinkansola Fawehinmi from Zaeda Oracle emphasized that businesses forfeit substantial revenue by failing to register trademarks and creative content, while Edward Israel-Ayide of Carpe Diem Solutions urged owners to leverage authentic customer stories as marketing tools. Razaq Ahmed, who leads fintech platform Cowrywise, discussed regulatory navigation and customer-focused innovation during a featured session.
The gathering included presentations on business model adaptation, an exhibition marketplace featuring 75 vendors, and a pitch competition awarding grants to three entrepreneurs. The Caladium community has supported over 10,000 small businesses since launching in 2018, according to organizers.
