The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has opened applications for a content creation competition offering a total of ₦1.5 million in cash prizes to three successful participants.
The competition forms part of the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026, scheduled to take place from November 8 to 10 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The winner will receive ₦1 million, while the second- and third-place participants will each collect ₦250,000.
Applicants must be available to attend the three-day conference physically and produce content covering the event. Winners will be determined by the total engagement generated by their eligible posts across their social media platforms.
Registration is free, with applications closing on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Competition Organised Under SMEDAN’s GROW Millionaires Initiative
The programme is being organised through SMEDAN’s GROW Millionaires initiative as part of the GROW Nigerian Conference.
It is intended to give emerging and established content creators an opportunity to demonstrate their skills by reporting on a major business event and sharing stories about Nigerian entrepreneurship, innovation and business activities.
Selected participants will cover the conference and publish their work on their social media accounts using the official hashtag #GROWNigerian.
Only content carrying the required hashtag will be considered when calculating engagement for the competition.
Unlike conventional business grant programmes, the initiative focuses specifically on digital content production and audience engagement.
How the ₦1.5 Million Prize Money Will Be Shared
Three participants will receive cash prizes based on their overall performance during the competition.
| Position | Cash prize |
|---|---|
| First place | ₦1,000,000 |
| Second place | ₦250,000 |
| Third place | ₦250,000 |
| Total | ₦1,500,000 |
In addition to the financial rewards, outstanding content may be published on the GROW Nigerian website and the conference’s social media platforms, with the creators receiving credit.
Who Can Apply for the SMEDAN Competition?
The competition is open to content creators and aspiring creators who publish on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and other social media platforms.
Applicants may produce content in areas such as business, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, fashion, food, technology, education and event coverage.
The application process accommodates participants at different stages of their content creation careers.
Applicants are asked to identify themselves as beginners who have not yet received paid assignments, growing creators with some paid work, established creators with regular clients, or professionals who operate content creation as a full-time business.
The organisers request information about applicants’ social media accounts and follower numbers, but no minimum follower requirement has been published on the application page.
However, participants must confirm that they can attend the conference in Lagos from November 8 to 10.
Four Stages of the Content Creation Competition
The competition involves registration, an online training session, physical participation at the conference and the assessment of published content.
Registration and Application
Interested creators must complete the free online application form through SMEDAN’s official competition website.
The form requests information about their content creation experience, social media platforms, account handles and follower counts.
Free Content Creation Webinar
Registered applicants are invited to participate in an online content creation webinar scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The session will be led by Nigerian entrepreneur and content creator Nelly Agbogu and is intended to prepare participants for the competition.
The organisers will send joining instructions to registered participants through email.
Conference Attendance and Content Production
Participants will be required to attend the GROW Nigerian Conference at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Plot 270B1, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.
During the three-day event, they must produce and publish content covering conference activities, using #GROWNigerian on all eligible posts.
Selection of Winners
The winner will be the participant whose eligible content generates the highest total engagement across their social media platforms during the conference.
The second- and third-place participants will receive the remaining cash prizes.
Dates and Venue for the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026
The conference will bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, business leaders, creatives and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
The programme will include business sessions, masterclasses and networking activities.
It will also feature the Nigerian First Fair, where 156 Nigerian brands are expected to display and sell their products.
Key event details include:
| Event information | Details |
|---|---|
| Conference | GROW Nigerian Conference 2026 |
| Dates | November 8–10, 2026 |
| Venue | Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) |
| Location | Victoria Island, Lagos |
| Online webinar | November 7, 2026 |
| Application deadline | November 8, 2026, 11:59 pm |
How to Apply for the SMEDAN ₦1.5 Million Competition
Applications must be submitted online through SMEDAN’s official competition portal.
Interested applicants are required to:
- Visit the official SMEDAN Content Creator Competition website.
- Complete the online registration form.
- Identify their primary social media platform and other platforms where they publish content.
- Provide their social media handles or account links and current follower counts.
- State their level of content creation experience.
- Confirm their availability to attend the conference in Lagos from November 8 to 10.
- Agree to the competition’s participation and content requirements.
- Submit the completed application.
Application portal: https://conference.smedan.gov.ng/creators
Registration is free, and applications close on November 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Content Ideas for Participants
Since the competition will be assessed through audience engagement, participants are expected to produce content that attracts attention and interaction across their social media platforms.
Creators can cover entrepreneurs and business owners exhibiting at the conference by interviewing them about their products, business experiences, challenges and growth plans.
Short-form videos for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts can also be used to highlight conference activities, speakers and business discussions.
Participants can share practical lessons from masterclasses, report on important discussions and develop stories around the people and businesses attending the event.
Encouraging comments, questions and audience participation may also help increase interaction with published content.
Creators are expected to maintain coverage throughout the three days and use the official #GROWNigerian hashtag on all eligible posts.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SMEDAN Competition
How much can the winner receive?
The first-place winner will receive ₦1 million. Two runners-up will each receive ₦250,000, bringing the total prize pool to ₦1.5 million.
Who is eligible to apply?
The competition is open to content creators and aspiring creators using Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and other social media platforms.
Is registration free?
Yes. Applicants do not have to pay an application fee.
Do applicants need thousands of followers?
The application accommodates creators at different career stages, including beginners. Although applicants must provide their follower counts, the organisers have not specified a minimum requirement.
Is physical attendance compulsory?
Yes. Participants must attend the GROW Nigerian Conference in Lagos from November 8 to 10, 2026.
How will the winners be determined?
The organisers will assess the total engagement generated by eligible content published across participants’ social media platforms during the three-day event.
When do applications close?
The deadline is Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Where can interested creators register?
Applications are available through the official SMEDAN competition portal at https://conference.smedan.gov.ng/creators.
SMEDAN’s ₦1.5 million content creation competition is being held as part of the GROW Nigerian Conference 2026. Interested creators must complete the free online application before the stated deadline and be available to cover the event in Lagos.
