By. OLAMIDE OJUOKAIYE
More than 5,000 young Nigerian entrepreneurs are expected to converge on the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, between March 17 and 21, 2026, for the GENSPARK 2026 summit, a weeklong industrial engagement aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and addressing youth migration popularly known as the “Japa Syndrome.”
The summit received a major boost following the announcement by WellaFitta Resources Limited that it would sponsor the registration fees of 2,000 young entrepreneurs, a move described as a strategic social intervention to remove financial barriers and expand access to specialised industrial training.
The GENSPARK 2026 summit will feature a large-scale exhibition of over 2,000 local innovations, designed to equip participants with production, leadership and regulatory skills required to build sustainable enterprises and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.
Speaking on the sponsorship, a representative of WellaFitta Resources Limited, Pharm. (Mrs.) Jooda Ajibade said the company was committed to promoting productive youth engagement and local manufacturing.
By sponsoring 2,000 participants, the firm seeks to incentivise “teeming youths who need to take responsibility for the future of our nation in the areas of productive engagement and entrepreneurial capacity development,” she said.
Pharm. Ajibade noted that WellaFitta remains dedicated to building a self-reliant healthcare value chain through robust local manufacturing, adding that the partnership provides a platform for ideas that could translate into actionable policies and partnerships across Nigeria’s industrial value chain.
The summit will host industry leaders and policymakers who will mentor participants on practical business pathways. Confirmed speakers include Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA); Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, Chairman of Fidson Healthcare PLC; Abimbola Balogun, Co-founder and Executive Director of So Fresh; and Taofik Odukoya, Founder and CEO of Vanguard Pharmacy Ltd.
Others are Abimbola Adebakin, Founder and CEO of Advantage Health Africa; Yinka Afonja, Chairman and CEO of ACE Mall; Gbenga Adesina, The Billionaires Consultant; and Pharm Abiodun Ajibade, FPSN, Project Lead and Chief Convener of the summit.
Pharm. Ajibade, who is also the Team Lead of GleanForte Academy Limited, described the partnership with WellaFitta as a critical support to government efforts aimed at repositioning the economy through industrial development.
He said while Nigerian youths had recorded global success in information technology and entertainment, the productive sector still required urgent youth participation to ensure long-term economic stability.
“The lack of confidence and entrepreneurial skills that are required for creating and sustaining solutions for the gaps in our nation is at the base of the misguided decisions for many youths,” Ajibade said.
He explained that the summit was structured to cause a “major shift in the mindset” of participants, moving them from a culture of consumption to one of local production.
A major highlight of the event will be the industrial showcase, where over 2,000 locally manufactured products, including household items, beauty products, renewable energy solutions and local crafts, will be displayed.
Organisers said the exhibition is designed to provide visibility and patronage for emerging producers, while creating opportunities for direct interaction with established industry leaders and potential investors.
The training curriculum for participants will focus on sustainable business survival, with specialised clinics on regulatory requirements and product registration with relevant agencies, aimed at meeting international standards and unlocking export opportunities.
WellaFitta Resources Limited described the sponsorship as part of a broader “collective effort” to advance Nigeria’s economic development.
By supporting the capacity of 2,000 entrepreneurs, the company said it was contributing to the emergence of a self-reliant industrial ecosystem capable of safeguarding the nation’s economic future.
Similarly, organisers said logistics and security arrangements had been finalised to ensure a smooth event, with participants expected from across the country. Interested participants and exhibitors are advised to register through the official portal, [www.GleanForteAcademy.com](http://www.GleanForteAcademy.com).
