The GROW Conference Marks Five Years of Guiding Entrepreneurs

By Korede Omololu-David

The GROW Conference marked its fifth anniversary with a hybrid event held on June 24th, 25th, and 28th, 2025, bringing together entrepreneurs, creators, and industry leaders across Africa to examine the central theme of this year’s gathering: “What am I building?”

The annual conference, which started as an Instagram Live session in 2021, returned this year with a mix of virtual workshops, keynote addresses, and an in-person Lagos meetup that drew participants from within and outside Nigeria. The focus was clear: getting African entrepreneurs to reflect deeply on the purpose, structure, and long-term vision of the businesses they are building.

Speaking on the significance of the theme, the founder of Digital Creator Chic and director of the GROW Network, Lucky Elohor, said the question was chosen deliberately to bring clarity back into the entrepreneurial and professional process of youths in Africa.

“People are building so many things at the same time, but not many are asking why,” she said. “This year, I wanted us to strip everything down to the foundation. Before momentum, before branding, before funding, what exactly are you building?”

Lucky Elohor described the five-year journey of the conference as one shaped by resilience and consistency.

“We started with an IG Live because that was all we had,” she recalled. “But even then, I knew we needed a space where African entrepreneurs and professionals could learn, collaborate, and build without feeling alone.”

The virtual sessions, held on June 24th and 25th, featured hands-on workshops and global networking rooms where founders discussed structure, team capacity, funding realities, and sustainability. The Lagos gathering on June 28th brought a more reflective tone as speakers revisited the early days of their careers.

One of the keynote speakers, Lucie Ekong, Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Data Warehousing and Artificial Intelligence, said the conference stood out because it focused on clarity rather than hype.

“Our continent is full of brilliant ideas, but brilliance without structure is fragile,” she said. “This question, ‘What am I building?’ forces you to confront the backbone of your work.”
Award-winning activist Fifi George added that many young entrepreneurs are pressured into rushing success.

“We celebrate results but not the quiet work that leads to them,” she said. “It’s why this conference matters. It brings us back to intention.”

For Tricia Biz, managing director of Ziba Beach Resort, building is not only about growth but also about endurance.

“If your work cannot stand pressure, it cannot stand time,” she said.

The lineup of guest speakers, including Dr. Malik of Vidpride, Douglas Kendyson of Selar, Tosan Etiwe of Spikk, Ivie Temitayo Ibitoye of Work in Nigeria, Yai Haddy of Process Toolbox, Joshua Mba of Serlzo, Precious O’Dahunsi of GetBUMPA, Lydia George, and public speaking strategist Joyce Daniels, echoed similar sentiments. Daniels noted:

“Your voice is one of your strongest building tools. The question is, what are you constructing with it every day?”

Reflecting on the anniversary, Lucky Elohor said the milestone brought both gratitude and responsibility.
“Five years is small, but it’s also something,” she said. “It shows that when you build with purpose, even a small beginning can become a movement.”

Sponsors such as Selar, Spikk, Serlzo, KFE Limited, and Sosa Fruit Drink supported the 2025 edition, reinforcing the conference’s role as a continental hub for collaboration.

As participants took final photos and exchanged contacts at the Lagos meetup, one message lingered among them: the conference had ended, but for many, the real building was only just beginning.