Onitsha business hangout plans unlocking agricultural value chain in South-East

In a bid to unlock the agricultural value chain in the South-East Region, the Onitsha Business Hangout, a non-profit body has announced plans to hold one-day symposium for young entrepreneurs in the region.

The workshop, is the 5th in the series since 2022, titled “the redefine edition” with the Core Theme: “Agriculture Beyond Farming: Unlocking Value Chain in the South East.”

Ifeanyichukwu Ogbaji, Convener, Onitsha Business Hangout, said that the event scheduled for July 5, 2026 at the CJ Patterson Auditorium, All Saints Cathedral Onitsha, Anambra State has Uche Ogah (Founder/ President of Masters Energy Group) as keynote speaker, while Sulaiman Dikwa of Green Sahara Farms, Chidimma Ewuzie, Director, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Akinwale Alabi, founder of Corporate Farmers are the panel discussants.

According to him, Onitsha has always been the heartbeat of commerce in West Africa. However, the world is moving fast, and traditional trading models must evolve. This edition is not just another business gathering; it is a deliberate, strategic ecosystem shift.

“For too long, the narrative around agriculture in the South-East has been limited to production, simply planting and harvesting. The real wealth, sustainability, and job creation lie in the value chain processing, packaging, cold-chain logistics, tech-driven distribution, and export infrastructure.

“By gathering agro-processors, investors, financial institutions, and tech innovators under one roof, we are showing our local micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) how to transition from traditional traders to key players in a multi-billion-dollar modern value chain,” he emphasised.

Ogbaji told newsmen in Onitsha on Sunday that the “Redefine Edition” is born out of a critical necessity to shift the business mentalities, stressing that the old model of hyper-competitive, isolated growth is limited.

“For the South-East economy to truly thrive in the modern era, we must move toward a philosophy of collective progress and collaborative growth.

“We are redefining what success looks like. It is no longer about one business surviving while others fail; it is about building shared networks, collaborative funding models (like our ongoing Open Pitch Grant Challenge), and an ecosystem where we intentionally leave no business owner behind.

“We are changing the narrative from a fragmented market to a unified economic powerhouse,” Ogbaji affirmed.

He said awarding winners of the open pitch grant challenge to empower small business owners with direct seed funding, through the generous renewal of its partnership with Business Clinic, would be launched at the event.

The initiative, organised by Business Clinic in partnership with Onitsha Business Hangout, is offering N20 million in seed funding to selected businesses with strong growth potential.

Beyond funding, the programme provides mentorship, business coaching, and increased visibility, ensuring that beneficiaries are not just funded, but equipped to scale sustainably. This approach addresses a common gap in grant programmes by combining capital with guidance and ecosystem access.

The challenge is open to entrepreneurs operating in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, particularly those looking to expand operations, create jobs, and strengthen their market presence. It is specifically tailored for businesses that are already active but require additional support to grow.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, live and operate within the South-East, and have a business that has been running for at least one year. Both registered and unregistered businesses are eligible, provided there is proof of active operations such as receipts, lease agreements, or utility bills.

Applicants are also expected to demonstrate clear business viability, including a sustainable model, a defined need for funding, and strong potential for job creation or expansion. Businesses with any history of fraudulent or illegal activity will not be considered.

Required documents, include a valid means of identification, a recent passport photograph, a photo of the business premises, a concise business summary, and a pitch deck using the organisers’ template. A key part of the process is the storytelling section, where applicants explain their journey and how the grant will impact their growth.

For MSMEs in the South-East, this initiative presents more than just funding. It offers access to networks, investors, and strategic support systems that can significantly improve long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

Ogbaji added that already about 1000 applications were received since April this year, and were reduced to 20 beneficiaries.

He thanked the sponsors of ecosystem partners, and most importantly, the members of the press, for the commitment to driving objective and developmental journalism.