 All right. Welcome back. It's still the breakfast in plus TV Africa. We have our first major conversation. And of course our guest seated poised to do justice to this topic, Lagos International Trade Fair. Have you ever heard of the Lagos International Trade Fair? It's said to be one of the largest international trade fairs in Nigeria. And by extension in West Africa, the fair brings into focus the potentials and business opportunities existing in Nigeria and the rest of the world. And it's usually a fun fair, very interesting event that holds in Lagos State Area. I won't do the talking because we have someone here to tell us exactly what we need to know about the Lagos International Trade Fair. We have Mrs. Olaju Moke Fasha, who is FCA, who is a Treasurer and Board Member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mrs. Fasha, good morning and thanks for your time. Good morning. Thank you for having me. So is that description correct that Lagos International Trade Fair is the biggest in the country and even in West Africa? How big is this? It's actually one of the biggest in Africa. Amazing. And this is the 36th edition. So it's something that all over the world, African countries look forward to it. Even all over the world, in there, everywhere, on the continent, at least, each of these continents have representatives coming. All right. So can you quickly bring us to speed with what's been going on with the Chamber? Okay. Now, the Lagos International Trade Fair, for this year, connecting businesses, creating values. So we encourage everybody doing business, every individual. And one of the highlights for me every year for this trade fair is the job created. Approximately 800 to 1,000 jobs are created. Now, a lot of business opportunities are also available. So each year we keep inching up and that's why even by the time we're closing for this, it starts on the 4th of November and closes on the 13th of November. So it's just a 10-day very impactful event that globally people look forward to it. So by the time we're running out of there, some countries already would have paid for next year's preparation. Averagely, we have 500,000 visitors and 3,000 to 4,000 exhibitors. So it's really huge. All right. So we have two sides, two parties involved, exhibitors and the visitors. Yes. Now, what is the purpose of the Lagos International Trade Fair? Okay. To provide opportunity and leverage for business owners. And the boost it does is that even every state in Nigeria always send in the representatives. Most states take spaces for their small business owners. The rate at which every all over the world the economy is going, the key to success and to move from the state we are in globally is to empower small business owners. So small business owners have opportunity to come. So even though seeking for jobs, they come around and it also exhibit the best of what Nigeria has. There's an Africa hub. The Africa hub means every country in Africa have what is new from that country that they're focusing on presenting to the world. Okay. So I mean it promises to be, you know, a different kind of gathering in November. This year is going to be like never before. Why we have what we call the tech hub? So MTN is going to be there. All the tech gurus are going to be there. The new startups are going to be there. So we are calling for every business owner. You want your business to get better. Then you can't sit alone. You can't stand alone. You can't stand alone. You need to come. Most times people think that trade fair is just to buy and say no it goes beyond that. It gives you an idea. You're able to work to see what your competitors are doing. People actually create new collaborations at this trade fair. Interesting. You've talked about, okay, let's see one last one. Yes, just a quick one before you come in. It's about, you've talked about connecting businesses and creating values and job opportunities. But if you look at, you know, our current reality has been very bleak. You know, inflation, the ease of doing business. It attacks us. It's like every other time. What's, you know, the chamber doing? Okay. Now, one thing is the chamber is strong on advocacy, meaning that what you as a business owner cannot say to government, the chamber is an opportunity. So member companies, we see a lot of leverage. So the government is able to hear you. And the government is very responsive. I know we're not used to to blame our trumpet in Nigeria. We like to see just the problems, but the government is listening. And for each problem, there is always a solution. The trade fair is an opportunity. The open event is going to, we're expecting the president and the closing ceremony is going to. My question, I understand that this is part of the procedure, but I'm asking that as, you know, you know, a buddy, right? What exactly have you done in terms of you said that it probably might be difficult, you know, for the government to listen to individual businesses. So I'm saying that you have the ears of the government. How much have you, you know, approached the government? What have you done to ensure that those who are in business, you know, little businesses, small businesses, you want to say, have the ears of the government and government is listening, you know, to the cries of the government. Okay, we have a lot of success stories at the Lagos chambers of commerce and industry. That's the premier chamber in Nigeria. We have sectorial groups. So depending on what kind of business you do, you join a sectorial group. Now, from that sectorial group, you bring out your pain points. And we have the heads of the government that most policies before you read about it in the papers, the government, because we even have a council. And so there are government agencies that send in representative on that council. So you make that's how come you say the point that the president mentions the press media. So we engage the government and most times for most policies, we get it at the chambers for concentration. It doesn't mean they're going to listen to everything we say or to comply with whatever we say. But each member company then has a net because you're able to adjust yourself because you know exactly what policy to look at. All right. You talked about, you know, introducing a tech hub as part of this probably sounds like something which is a bit different from the norm. And so looking at the exhibitors, what range of businesses and exhibitors should the public expect? Wow. Now, the trade fair presents a connect between the very big companies, the small and even the aspiring companies. So what we take, for instance, we have the MTN, we have the dangute part of our sponsors list sponsors and is the UBA. So from banking, it cross across all sectors. So what that does is different when you're knocking on the door of say dangute in their offices, when you're knocking on the door of MTN, you come to the trade fair, you're going to meet them is a level. So there's a lot of protocol that is already broken. So if you and the tech hub, the very big tech companies are going to be there. The major ones are going to be there. The small ones are going to be there. And all of you have your stand. So that's a level you understand. So it just breaks about the protocol that you normally have when you're trying to meet people that are bigger than you. And don't forget that in the economy, we're all very useful to ourselves. You won't know the importance of letting your driver until the guy disappears and you have to drive yourself. Then you know that everybody is actually very valuable. So the economy needs both the giants, the small, the medium and the upcoming. So it's a level. Alright, so let's talk about this now. How can one be part of it? How can those who are business peasants or those who run businesses, you know, keen to this particular? Yes, we have a very website, you got the website and even the booking now is very smart all over the world. We have foreign countries that have already booked their spaces. And so you pay online. So it's very smart. You just go to is Legos International Trifia and they're trending hashtags just hashtag Legos International Trifia 2022. And those are very on all social media platforms. We're there. So you actually can indicate your interest and quickly book spaces because spaces are almost gone. So what's the fee like? It depends. The minimum space is the pen. There's the tens. There's the the various. So it's a place where everybody would be able to fit into it. So just give us an idea of, you know, the minimum, the minimum may be plus everything may be about 400,000. Yes. And so what some sectors do is, as you mean, the the prince media can take a whole stand and take one stand and every interested organizations, you're there. You know, so there's a seamless flow. Take for instance, Legos they normally pace for stands for indigenous, artisans, whatever. So there's always a place if you're sending your inquiry to be able to fit in. So that way nobody feels left out because don't forget we know that everybody is important in the fabric for economy. You know, whilst growing up, you know, Mercy, you and I, I think, have spent some time in in a city, particularly of mutual concern. There's less to be a trade fair, you know, period. I think it was, they should have it at the Leventis building then. We used to go there and we see all sorts of things. It was like a jamboree, really like a carnival of sorts, you know, where we would see all sorts of things and children will have a fun time. I'm at the first time I saw this motorcycle, this 4-in-1, not the one that we used to use in the city. I grew up in Yocata, you know, this 4-in-1 with somebody doing all sorts of stocks. Yeah, you know, this is a power bike, you know, it was at a trade fair. So is this Legos trade fair going to be family friendly? This one is even very unique because we have dedicated space for children. So when you're coming, you don't have to worry about where would you keep your children. Actually the focus for this year is that we're making Father Christmas come early. Father Christmas is coming early. They're going to have the biggest one. It's going to be very, very secure. The CCTV cameras, so you don't have anything to be afraid of. And moreover, this year, the gate fee is just 300 Naira, highly subsidized. And one reason why everybody should go to... Why don't you make it free? Okay, two things. One, you know, a lot of people, when you make something free of no value, then you have people who really are just homeless. But when you have to part with that talking of, then you're intentional. So it's not just that you don't have any reason to don't forget that the business owners are taking the space. They're hoping that even they will be able to meet other businesses. And one very important part of it is it's a connect. There's no year I'm at the trade fair. I don't encounter people who have lost contact with for more than 10, 15 years. So it's worth it. Interesting. So let's have details, Madam. Where is it holding? Is it a legal street fair complex, for instance? Is it a hotel or some event center? And give us the dates, the time again? Yes, it's happening at the Taffa-Ballewa Square. That's where we've been holding it since. And the... Where's that? Central Legals over here, yes, TBS. TBS. TBS, TBS, TBS, TBS, Taffa-Ballewa Square. And the ground on the ground and then we have the cricket pitch that is just across. So there's safe packing. And it's always very seamless. The trade fair, Legals intentionally if you're starting on the 4th of November and closing on the 13th of November. It's from morning from eight o'clock till six o'clock. And every day, people, because we even have the data, average, 1,000 deals are closed. And that's what's reported. 1,000 deals, you can imagine the volume of that deals that is closed. And it's always people that get new jobs, they don't lose their jobs. So the job creation is also very key. I also can see that you're partnering with LASMA to have a seamless flow of traffic. There's always seamless flow of traffic and each year we get better by it. So it's always very, very seamless. So let's reiterate this. I hope, is it limited to a certain group of business owner or is open to every everyone? It's open to everyone. And the more you think your business need visibility, then you should be at the legal international trade fair. As I said, there are always strategies. The minimum space might be 10 square meters. And you know that all you want is just an opportunity for people to pick up your bookings for people. There's a B2B opportunities and there are special days. Companies take those special days for one or two hours. We ensure that a lot of advertisement goes on. So people you want to reach, you're able to use your special day to introduce your product, to meet new customers and to also get feedback. All right. Kofi, just quickly, apart from that, I'd like to know if, I mean, you have mentioned the benefit and importance of being part of the Lagos International trade fair. And I'd like to know if there's an extra that comes with it, apart from the fact that there's going to be connectivity, networking. Was it an extra that comes from you, for this business owner? Yeah, most companies, most participants, participating companies, can't prepare to give discounts. Okay, so but what do you do as an extra for them? Number one is, one is the opportunity to showcase and to have their products secured. I mean, there's 100% security. And because of all the security forces that are always present, there's no noise pollution for most trade fairs at times that particularly in Africa tends to be very rowdy that you can't hold conversations. So we're always very particular about the noise level. So the extra that comes is the fact that you're there, the fact that you have your business visible, the fact that you also want to want a lot of people who companies who are non-members of the Lagos chambers of commerce, because they really don't understand the value. So you're able to ask for the questions and to see the facilities. Well, before we started, you were just talking about getting emails from Lagos chambers. There are lots of trainings that are highly subsidized. All right, interesting. I'm going to take a detail here at this point, because we have something around the corner, which is the 2023 elections. And LCCI, you've been active. You had your 2022 edition of your private sector economic summit. Yes. I'm sure you know that there was some discontent from other political presidential candidates questioning why LCCI invited only three of the presidential candidates. Sorry, I'm taking you down. No, no, no. I mean, it's okay. I've been a council member. Why did you invite only three? And what is LCCI's response to that discontent from the other presidential candidates? Okay, one thing that stands out about the Lagos chambers of commerce is that there's nothing political. Don't forget that whatever your political inclination is, you don't become relevant unless your business is doing well. So I heard and we read about that. Any party that has presidential candidates or want to, they can approach us. The people that approached started the conversation. We won't go after. It wasn't the intention to go after. No, come and talk. What we are saying is that you want to become the next president. This is a private, organized private sector. These are the people you need to talk to. Tell us what you have and we'll ask you questions. So for those who have not yet sent in the indication of their willingness of their candidates, they should quickly do so. The door is open. We are open for everybody. Are we still expecting the L Progressive Congress presidential candidate on October 28th by 9 30 a.m.? Hopefully, yes. Hopefully. All grants we are waiting on. Everybody, you know, this is not the time to stand and look. This is not the time to say we don't, we are not concerned. Everybody is concerned about this. Okay, all right. Before we go, can we just give us again, you know, go over the details of the trade fair for those who want to just, for emphasis sake, get the details on that. Okay. Please, the hashtag, hashtag join me at the 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair, hashtag 2022 LITF, hashtag Lagos International Trade Fair. It's starting on the 4th of November and closes on the 13th of November. The venue is the Tafah Balewa Square Lagos. You don't know Tafah Balewa. Please use your Google map and it's going to be seamless. It's going to be secured. And one thing I guarantee everybody that comes with intention to add value to your business, not only would you sell out, a lot of people, when they're coming, they come with not a lot of good. They get to sell their goods. People need to shop for December, for Christmas. So it's always a good opportunity to do that. And particularly, whatever business you do, if you are not an exhibit of, make sure you come in as a guest, as a visitor. All right. All right. Interesting. And for more information, you can go on the LCCI website. Yes, please. Lagos, Chambers of Commerce and Lagos website. Yes, and follow us on all the social media handles. Fantastic. Fantastic. Thank you so much for giving us the information and for having the patience to answer the other political question. All right, Mrs Olajumoke Fashanu FCA is a treasurer and board member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We'll be there as well as TV Africa at the Lagos International Trade Fair to monitor proceedings and then bring them to you as well. I'm sure that we can get that handle. Yes, indeed. And we'll be back with more conversations right here. We'll talk sports with Mighty George. Stay with us.