Business
Made-in-Plateau Carnival Debuts as GIZ Pushes Green, Circular Economy for 6,000 MSMEs
The Made-in-Plateau Business Carnival entered its second day on Wednesday with massive turnout at the Solomon Lar Amusement Park, Jos, as thousands of residents trooped in to patronize locally made products sold at highly subsidised festive-season prices.
The five-day event, which runs from December 2–6, is themed “Strengthening the Plateau MSMEs Ecosystem through Synergies and Eco-smart Entrepreneurship.”
Organised in partnership with the Plateau State Government, GIZ, SMEDAN, PLASMIDA, the University of Jos, Plateau State Polytechnic, and several regulatory and financial institutions, the carnival features a one-stop marketplace, exhibitions, trainings, and—for the first time ever on the Plateau—a Made-in-Plateau Deal Room where MSMEs pitch directly to investors.
GIZ: ‘We Have Trained 6,000 MSMEs on Green and Circular Economy’
Speaking at the carnival, Manbyen Daki, Business Development Service Expert for GIZ Plateau State, said the initiative marks a new phase in the state’s MSME development.
“We have trained over 6,000 MSMEs in Plateau to change their mindset from the traditional way of doing business to incorporating the green and circular economy,” she said.
Daki explained that the carnival brings together entrepreneurs, financial institutions and regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, SON and CAC to create seamless access to markets, business registration and funding at subsidised rates.
She described the newly introduced Deal Room as a major innovation:
“This has never happened before—a deal room where angel investors, impact investors and MSMEs sit together. Entrepreneurs pitch, investors feel the fabrics, taste the coffee, see prototypes, and decide on-the-spot who to support. This is Made-in-Plateau 1.0.”
She added that GIZ’s core work is capacity building, job creation and ensuring that the MSME ecosystem on the Plateau becomes strong enough to scale beyond state borders.
Entrepreneurs Showcase Innovation, Culture and Circular Creativity
The carnival also featured a rich display of products, including food items, skincare, organic products, indigenous fabrics, small chops, artworks, and crafts made from everyday waste.
Kim’s Coffee — Pitching for Scale-Up
Dung Davidai, Co-founder of Kim’s Coffee Nigeria Ltd, said the event provides a rare opportunity for small businesses to access real investors.
“It’s my first pitching experience, but it’s a learning curve. Opportunities like these don’t come every day, so I’m here to showcase what we do and how we plan to scale,” he said.
Atili Crafts — Turning a Plateau Treasure Into Wealth
Mrs. Kunna Eframe showcased her unique line of crafts made from Atili seeds, which are commonly found across Plateau communities.
She explained that her team converts the seeds—often left to waste on the ground—into jewelry, jackets symbolizing bravery, cultural instruments, and key holders, representing multiple Plateau tribes.
“Every Plateau tribe uses this instrument. We added colour and design to make it more attractive and culturally expressive,” she said.
Agro-Processing and Natural Products
Agro-processor Alan Prince displayed food products such as amora, sesame, honey, and other processed foods, alongside natural skincare and cleaning products produced by his partner.
He commended the turnout and the support from government and partners.
“Sales have been encouraging for the season. We thank the governor and all agencies that made this program possible,” he said.
Waste-to-Wealth Arts by Enara Works
Stella Enara-Joseph, a lawyer and founder of Enara Works and Designs, showcased a wide range of recycled art pieces.
From photo frames made of broken necklaces, to masks made from raffia, wood scraps, kitchen waste, and bottle covers, her work highlights environmental sustainability.
“Everything we make is from waste. Instead of burning waste and harming the environment, we upgrade it into beautiful home items and artwork,” she explained.
A One-Stop Festival of Creativity and Affordable Shopping
Visitors at the carnival enjoyed access to diverse indigenous products at discounted prices, making shopping easier ahead of the December festivities.
Financial institutions offered MSME-friendly loan packages, while regulators provided on-site business registration and certification at subsidised rates.
The carnival continues until December 6, with organisers assuring the public that even bigger exhibitions, pitching sessions and sales await.
Tony Elumelu played a supreme role in getting investment bank Afrinvest back on track in 2011 after the global financial meltdown pushed the investment bank to the brink, its chief executive recalled in a letter to the tycoon seen by PREMIUM TIMES.
The multisectoral magnate, who is the top shareholder of United Bank for Africa, the Transcorp Group, and Seplat Energy, granted a soft loan of $1 million to Ike Chioke, the CEO of the financial institution, as a mark of urgent support when the firm direly needed the cash to recapitalise, the latter said.
“Fifteen years ago, Afrinvest was navigating one of the most challenging periods in its history, as we struggled to rebuild and recapitalise the business in the aftermath of the global financial crisis,” Mr Chioke said.
“At that critical juncture, when the future was far from certain, you made the remarkable decision to lend me US$1 million of your personal funds. You placed your confidence not simply in the prospects of a business but in me as an individual, my integrity, my determination and my conviction that Afrinvest could emerge stronger from adversity.”
This June, Mr Chioke eventually completed the repayment of the credit, according to the letter, describing the gesture as an extraordinary act of friendship, generosity and trust.
READ ALSO: Afrinvest repays undocumented $1 million from Elumelu with interest
Mr Elumelu, whose economic vision is anchored on what he calls “Africapitalism” – an investment philosophy that prioritises the private sector’s role in democratising the wealth Africa needs to power large-scale growth, has been involved in active philanthropic initiatives on the continent.
In March, his foremost charity project, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, turned sixteen, and he said the initiative had disbursed over $100 million in seed capital to 24,000 entrepreneurs in Africa and created more than 1.5 million jobs over the period.
The foundation expects to fund an additional 3,200 entrepreneurs this year, it said in September.
Mr Chioke applauded the profound impact Mr Elumelu’s financial assistance has had on Afrinvest, notably transforming it into a diversified regional financial services group with an expanding universe of clients and operations in asset management, investment banking, research & consulting, and securities trading.
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