By Sani Idris Abdulrahman
Entrepreneurs in Zaria, Kaduna state on Saturday converged for World Entrepreneurs’ Day 2026 (WED) Zazzau Version 5.0, focusing on building resilient enterprises for the future.
The annual event, convened by Bello Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of BYY Innovation, brought together entrepreneurs, students, innovators, business owners, mentors and development stakeholders.
Yusuf said the fifth edition marked a significant milestone in the initiative, which started in 2023 to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities for growth and networking.
He said the initiative was designed to create a platform where entrepreneurs could connect, learn from mentors, access opportunities and develop sustainable businesses.
According to him, entrepreneurship goes beyond buying and selling, requiring continuous learning, networking, adaptation and willingness to improve.
He said the event was originally celebrated August 21, but was shifted following the death of the programme’s legal adviser, Dr Umar Bebeji.
Yusuf said the date was also shifted because of the rainy season, which has previously affected vendors and exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
He said the organisers were particularly committed to honouring the late legal adviser, who contributed to the development of the initiative.
“His absence is felt, but one way to honour his legacy is to continue building, supporting people and creating opportunities,” Yusuf said.
He said WED 2026 Zazzau Version was not merely an annual gathering, but a platform intended to convert entrepreneurship discussions into practical opportunities.
Yusuf said the organisers provided mentorship, networking opportunities and a pitching session through which selected entrepreneurs would receive financial support.
He said three entrepreneurs would receive N350,000, N250,000 and N150,000 respectively, totalling N750,000 in financial support.
According to him, the support would help beneficiaries purchase equipment, improve packaging, increase stock, test ideas or reach new customers.
Yusuf urged participants to use the event to introduce themselves, share their ideas, seek mentors, identify potential customers and build strategic partnerships.
He said resilient businesses must adapt to changing technology, markets, customer preferences and other emerging challenges.
The keynote speaker, Malam Hassan Muhammad, a lecturer in the Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Kaduna Polytechnic, spoke on resilient enterprises.
Muhammad said enterprise resilience was fundamental to the survival and success of businesses regardless of their size.
He said history contained numerous examples of businesses with strong potential that eventually failed because they were inadequately prepared for internal and external challenges.
Muhammad explained that resilient enterprises were businesses capable of surviving, adapting and coping with environmental pressures and internal crises.
He said entrepreneurs needed to prepare for uncertainty by strengthening their systems, understanding their operating environment and developing the capacity to respond to setbacks.
He noted that resilience was not merely about surviving difficult periods, but also learning from challenges and adapting business strategies accordingly.
Hassan Yakubu, founder of KADA SMEs HUB and chief judge for the pitching session, said small businesses needed programmes that strengthened their capacity and mindset.
Yakubu said entrepreneurs inevitably encountered challenges, but their ability to learn from setbacks and bounce back constituted entrepreneurial resilience.
He said entrepreneurs needed to build strong people, systems and networks capable of helping their businesses withstand internal and external challenges.
He said the pitching session would give participating small businesses opportunities to demonstrate their resilience, capacity and ideas while competing for additional capital.
Bilkisu Abdulkadir, founder of Nuriya Turban, said participating in WED since its first edition had exposed her to mentorship, partnerships and new business relationships.
Abdulkadir said the programme had helped her understand the importance of branding, trust and networking in strengthening her business.
She said interacting with other entrepreneurs allowed participants to exchange experiences and leave the programme with new knowledge and relationships.
Umar Imam, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sir Tech GSM Clinik, said the event had significantly influenced the expansion of his business.
Imam, who had attended several previous editions, said the programme helped him realise that his phone repair business could be expanded beyond its initial scope.
He said he had subsequently trained more than 100 apprentices and expanded into the sale of accessories and other products.
Abubakar Sani, Founder and Director of The Life We Deserve Foundation, said the event provided entrepreneurs with opportunities to showcase their products and services.
Sani said more than 20 stalls were available for participants to display and sell their products while gaining knowledge on business development.
He said the sessions exposed participants to business adaptation, scaling, policy issues, funding and risk management.
Sani advised participants to apply the knowledge gained from the programme to improve their businesses, increase sales and achieve sustainable growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the WED Zazzau Version 5.0 also provided opportunities for vendors and exhibitors to showcase their brands, products and services and connect with potential customers. (NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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