The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to leverage an upcoming trade fair to generate sales of about N5 billion over three days. The event is a key component of the state’s efforts to boost entrepreneurship, culture, and commerce across its divisions.
The Details of the Fair
The fair, named the Lagos Tourism Naija Brand Chick Trade Fair, will take place from October 24 to 26, 2025, at the Whitestone Event Centre in Ikeja. It is the mainland edition, following an earlier version held on Lagos Island that reportedly recorded over N1 billion in sales.
The state government, teaming up with the entrepreneurial group Naija Brand Chick, plans to support between 100 and 150 vendors. These vendors are expected to collectively reach the N5 billion sales goal during the fair period. The state promises strong backing in logistics, marketing, and publicity to ensure smooth operations and maximum visibility for participants.
Objectives and Significance
The trade fair is part of the “101 Days in Lagos” initiative, a calendar of arts, tourism and cultural activities intended to spur local trade and tourism engagement. The idea is to blend entertainment, culture, and commerce to recreate the vibrancy of markets in old Lagos, where performance and trade coexisted.
Beyond sales, the government views the event as a tool to foster inclusivity—giving small businesses broader access to markets and helping them scale operations. The strategy also fits within Lagos’s larger vision of strengthening its creative economy and nurturing homegrown enterprises.
What it Means for Vendors and Lagos Residents
For vendors, the trade fair presents a high-stakes opportunity: success could mean significant revenue, brand exposure, and potential growth in customer base. But it also brings pressure to prepare well—product quality, pricing, visibility strategy, and marketing all will matter.
For residents, the fair offers access to a wide array of goods and cultural offerings. It may also stimulate temporary job creation, especially in logistics, event services, security, and hospitality.
Overall, the project underscores Lagos State’s ambition to blend culture and commerce, creating more pathways for small businesses to thrive while promoting the city as a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.