The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, in partnership with Tripoint Travel Limited and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan-Atlantic University, has concluded the Nigerian edition of the GEC+ Africa Regional Pitch Competition, selecting three outstanding startups to represent the country at GEC+ Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, later this year.
Held in Lagos, the competition brought together 10 innovative entrepreneurs who pitched their businesses before a panel of judges and ecosystem stakeholders. The top three startups will now compete with leading ventures from across Africa under the 2026 theme, “Connecting Africa.”
The regional pitch competition is one of GEN Nigeria’s preparatory activities for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC+ Africa), scheduled for September 2026. The event aims to connect entrepreneurs with investors, policymakers, Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs), and business leaders from across the continent while creating opportunities for collaboration and business expansion.
Speaking at the event, representatives of GEN Africa described GEC+ Africa as a platform designed to strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems across the continent by bringing together founders, investors, policymakers and support organisations.
According to the organisers, the platform is intended to foster stronger partnerships that help African businesses scale, enable investors to identify promising ventures and encourage governments to adopt successful entrepreneurship policies from across the region.
They noted that deeper collaboration among African countries is essential for creating more opportunities for startups and MSMEs to grow beyond their domestic markets and compete across the continent.
The Bank of Industry (BOI), one of the programme’s key partners, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting enterprise development through financing, business advisory services, ecosystem development and capacity-building initiatives.
The bank described MSMEs as the backbone of every economy and stressed that supporting entrepreneurs remains central to driving economic growth, job creation and industrial development. It also highlighted the importance of stronger intra-African collaboration, noting that greater economic integration would enable businesses to access larger markets, retain more value within Africa and accelerate sustainable development.
GEN Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to helping Nigerian entrepreneurs access international markets, strategic partnerships and investment opportunities through collaborations with ecosystem partners, including the Enterprise Development Centre, the Bank of Industry and Tripoint Travel Limited.
The organisation noted that previous editions of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress have enabled Nigerian businesses to participate in international exhibitions and establish valuable business connections, adding that this year’s GEC+ Africa will provide similar opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to expand across Africa.
The three selected Nigerian startups will now travel to Cape Town, where they will pitch alongside other leading African ventures, engage with investors, participate in policy discussions and attend capacity-building sessions designed to support business growth.
Organisers said startups were assessed based on innovation, scalability, market traction and their potential to create jobs while contributing to increased intra-African trade.
As implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continues to open new opportunities for businesses across the continent, stakeholders believe stronger regional partnerships will be critical to helping African startups and MSMEs scale beyond national borders.
For Nigerian MSMEs, participation in platforms such as GEC+ Africa offers opportunities to attract investment, build cross-border partnerships, explore new export markets and gain greater visibility within Africa’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.