Leading voices in business, policy, and development will converge in Abuja on Thursday, October 16, 2025, as the Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA) hosts its 5th Annual Conference themed “Translating Policy into Practice: Cost-Reduction and Tax Reforms for Sustainable SME Growth.”
The high-level event, slated for the Diamond Hall, A-Class Event Centre, Wuse II, will bring together top policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development partners to deliberate on how tax reforms and cost-reduction strategies can drive the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially those led by women.
At the forefront of the discussions is Her Excellency Aisha Babangida, Founder of WenA, who has been a consistent advocate for women’s economic empowerment and inclusive business policies.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Ms Babangida said, “Empowering SMEs, particularly women-led enterprises, means empowering Nigeria’s future. This conference is a call to action for all stakeholders to translate policy into tangible, impactful change.”
Among the confirmed speakers are Ms Chayla Shagaya, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship, who will deliver a keynote on scaling SMEs through cost-reduction reforms, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who will present on fiscal reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s tax environment for small businesses.
A major highlight of the conference will be the unveiling of a Strategic Policy Roadmap developed by WenA in collaboration with UN Women, offering practical recommendations to simplify taxation and enhance regulatory compliance for SMEs.
The event will also feature a high-level panel discussion with Dr Fausat Aleshinloye (Economist and Policy Analyst), Ifeoma Malo (CEO, Clean Tech Hub), Mrs Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo (SheVentures, FCMB), and representatives from Nigeria’s energy sector, moderated by Dr Dahiru Sani.
A dedicated session on simplifying Nigeria’s tax regime will explore harmonisation, compliance ease, and transparency to reduce the burden on small businesses. Participants will also enjoy networking opportunities across government, finance, and development sectors.
To celebrate excellence within the SME ecosystem, the conference will feature an awards segment recognising innovation, scalability, and community impact, including the coveted “Most Scalable Business in North-Central Nigeria” award.
