Thousands of young leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and change-makers gathered in Lagos for the fifth edition of ARISE Conference, a two-day leadership and enterprise summit that challenged participants to embrace change, unlock opportunities and build lives of lasting impact in an increasingly dynamic world.
Held on June 27 and 28, 2026, at the WCCRM Bariga District Centre, Pedro, Bariga, Lagos, the conference attracted thousands of physical participants, while more than 10,000 people joined virtually through YouTube and Facebook.
Approximately 80 percent of the online audience connected from Nigeria, with viewers from the United States and the United Kingdom leading international participation.
Now in its fifth year, ARISE Conference has steadily evolved into one of the flagship youth development initiatives of the Watchman Young Adult Forum. Since its debut in 2022 under the theme Arise, the conference has continued to challenge young people through annual themes including Unlimited (2023), Moving Forward (2024), Access (2025), and this year’s timely focus – Shift.
Supported by Zenith Bank, Imperio International Limited, Flinks Foods and Beverages Industries Limited, DAX Tech Group, Fibi, TNG, Cheva Express and Iglow Cakes & Events, the conference brought together respected professionals, business executives, educators, public servants and faith leaders to address the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship, career development, innovation, governance and spiritual growth.
Among the distinguished guests were the Diocesan Pastor of the Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, Lagos Diocese, Protase Opara; the Diocesan Women’s Leader, Jewel Opara; the Vice Chairman of the Watchman Young Adult Forum Advisory Board and Marketing Director of Imperio International Limited, Roseline Abaronye; the Chief Executive Officer of Glowfield International Schools, Blessing Anenechukwu; the Director General of the National Institute of International Affairs, Eghosa Osaghie, represented by Eberechi Nweze; delegates from Nsukka, Enugu State; and several accomplished entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Opening the conference, Emmanuel Aloysius, Project Coordinator described life as a journey punctuated by defining moments capable of changing destinies.
He urged participants to recognize such moments when they appear and described ARISE Conference as one of those rare opportunities capable of shifting individuals from one level of influence to another.
Beyond acquiring knowledge, he challenged attendees to apply what they learned, transform where necessary and become catalysts for the growth of others.
Delivering the welcome address, Mrs. Roseline Abaronye noted that ARISE had become a platform where leadership, entrepreneurship, communication, innovation, career development, strategic growth and spiritual empowerment intersect.
Reflecting on the rapidly changing global landscape shaped by technological advancement, shifting economic realities and evolving consumer behaviour, she observed that change is no longer optional but inevitable. According to her, those willing to adapt will be best positioned to thrive in the emerging future.
The keynote address by Pastor Dr. Protase Opara laid the spiritual foundation for the conference. Drawing lessons from biblical figures including Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Esther, Peter and Paul, he described the theme “shift” as both divine and intentional – a process through which God prepares individuals for greater purpose.
He identified seventeen critical areas requiring transformation, including mindset, identity, spiritual commitment, emotional maturity, discipline, responsibility, relationships, mentorship, leadership, career and business. Participants were encouraged to abandon limiting patterns, embrace disciplined growth, trust the process of transformation and intentionally surround themselves with people who inspire excellence.
The emphasis on transformation continued with Deputy Superintendent of Police Maureen Chioma Chinaka, Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, whose presentation, From Confusion to Clarity: Designing Your Life and Career Plans, challenged participants to approach their futures with deliberate planning.
She encouraged young people to discover their identity in Christ, identify their strengths, invest continuously in knowledge and skill acquisition, seek mentors and establish both short-term and long-term life plans covering their spiritual lives, careers, character and relationships.
Adding a creative dimension to the conference, spoken word artist Judith Favour delivered a moving performance chronicling the journey of ARISE Conference from its inaugural edition to its current theme, capturing the evolution of both the platform and its growing community.
Entrepreneurship took centre stage as Mrs. Blessing Anenechukwu presented a practical session titled From Certificate to Money: Turning Your Dreams into Income.
She argued that true economic value lies not merely in academic qualifications but in solving real problems. Presenting what she described as an “income formula”—Knowledge + Skills + Visibility + Value = Income – she challenged participants to intentionally develop competencies that create measurable value in society.
A dedicated networking session followed, providing participants with opportunities to build professional relationships, exchange ideas and establish collaborations beyond the conference hall.
Further expanding the entrepreneurship conversation, Emmanuel Nduka, Co-founder of Evolv Africa, introduced participants to his SPARK framework for monetising skills.
The model encouraged entrepreneurs to develop exceptional skills, package them into scalable products or systems, identify a clearly defined audience, build consistent market reach and establish sustainable revenue streams.
In an increasingly competitive economy where technical skills are becoming commonplace, he argued that the ability to commercialise value distinguishes exceptional entrepreneurs from the ordinary.
Representing one of the conference’s lead sponsors, Chukwuemeka Daniel of Zenith Bank highlighted financial products and support initiatives available to small and medium-sized enterprises, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs.
Business strategy remained a major focus during an engaging fireside conversation between Michael Oyagha and Bernice Nkolika, Chief Executive Officer of DAX Tech Group. Drawing from years of entrepreneurial experience, she stressed that integrity, continuous learning, service excellence, speed of delivery, strategic branding and intentional networking remain among the strongest competitive advantages available to growing businesses.
The first day concluded with recognition awards presented to outstanding resource persons, including Emmanuel Ndika, Mrs. Bernice Nkolika and Mrs. Blessing Anenechukwu, in appreciation of their contributions to the conference.
Exceptional academic achievement was also celebrated as high-performing candidates from the Watchman Young Adult Forum who scored above 300 in the 2026 UTME received awards and prizes.
The second day shifted attention toward civic responsibility, national development and practical leadership.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps delivered an extensive road safety awareness session, reminding participants that road safety is a shared responsibility.
They urged motorists to avoid drinking and driving, wear seatbelts consistently, refrain from using mobile phones while driving, avoid excessive speeding and maintain roadworthy vehicles, while encouraging pedestrians and all road users to contribute actively to safer roads.
Another spoken word presentation by Abigail John explored themes of identity, resilience and overcoming self-doubt, inspiring participants to embrace personal transformation despite uncertainty and adversity.
In a thought-provoking session on Faith and Governance: Strategic Entry into Politics While Upholding God’s Standard, Barrister Michael Oyagha encouraged greater participation of Christians in public leadership and governance
Emphasising that righteous leadership produces societal progress, he challenged participants to pursue positions of influence while remaining grounded in integrity, justice and biblical values.
Perhaps one of the most compelling personal stories of the conference came from Chartered Accountant, Chukwuemeka Chukwu during a roundtable conversation on How I Shifted from Being a Street Hawker to a Chartered Accountant.
Recounting his journey from selling goods on the streets to becoming a finance professional and successful entrepreneur in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, he underscored the power of resilience, disciplined learning and perseverance. He cautioned young people against get-rich-quick schemes, describing sustainable success as the product of consistent effort and character.
The defining moment of ARISE Conference 2026 came with the highly anticipated Pitch Your Businesscompetition, which transformed the conference from a platform of inspiration into one of tangible economic empowerment.
From an initial pool of fourteen applicants, only five entrepreneurs advanced through a rigorous screening process that evaluated business understanding, market knowledge, competitive advantage, SWOT analysis, resource planning, team capacity and alignment with the Watchman Young Adult Forum’s values of godliness and integrity.
The finalists represented diverse sectors of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. They included Mercy Ezechukwu of Melibs Couture; Gideon Ofoegbu, Co-founder of Kenai Health Solutions; Victoria Chisom Okezie of Edify Writing Enterprise; Esther Ameh of Heritage and Hem Fashion Aesthetics Limited; and Ifeaka Chukwuka of Boldly Handmade.
Before a distinguished panel of judges comprising Patrick Orji of Famek Insurance Brokers Limited, Mrs. Roseline Abaronye, Nnamdi Unachukwu of DAX Tech Group, Onyinyechi Anojulu of Flinx Foods and Beverages Industries Limited and Val Okafor of The Val Okafor Company, each finalist defended their business model, responded to rigorous questioning and demonstrated the viability of their enterprise.
After a highly competitive assessment, Gideon Ofoegbu, Co-founder of Kenai Health Solutions—a health technology platform expanding access to telemedicine and AI-assisted healthcare services—emerged as the overall winner, receiving a N1 million business grant.
Beyond the financial award, all finalists secured access to structured mentorship, business advisory support, increased visibility and future opportunities to compete for larger grants and investment through the Watchman Young Adult Forum Empowerment Project, reinforcing the conference’s commitment to long-term entrepreneurial development rather than one-time financial assistance.
The conference concluded with a prophetic impartation session led by Pastor Ben Egbujor, who prayed for participants and committed their aspirations, careers, businesses and leadership journeys to God.
As delegates departed Lagos at the close of the two-day summit, many left with more than conference materials and photographs. They carried new relationships, refined business ideas, practical strategies and renewed conviction that meaningful transformation begins with the courage to embrace change.
Five years after its inception, ARISE Conference has grown beyond an annual gathering. It has become a platform where purpose meets preparation, where faith intersects with enterprise, and where a new generation is being equipped to lead with competence, character and conviction in an ever-changing world.
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