A recent United Nations (UN) study paints a sobering picture of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape: fewer than one in ten small businesses manage to survive and expand within their first five years.
According to Mrs. Titilope Adisa‑Obafemi, founder of Blaque Swann Legal Practitioners, the root of this challenge lies in the way many ventures are launched — without adequate planning, legal safeguards, or strategic frameworks. To address this gap, her firm is spearheading an initiative designed to empower entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals with the tools they need to build resilient enterprises.
The programme, titled ASCEND 360: Build, Protect, Grow, is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025, in Lagos. It promises a rich blend of insights and mentorship from a diverse roster of industry leaders. Among the speakers are Olushola Olaleye, founder of Trips Clothing; media personality Tomike Adeoye; lifestyle creative Babalola Ifeoluwa‑Isaac (SnappCode); Pastor Tunde Adisa, a seasoned business coach; Bukola Odoe from the Lagos State Office of Public and Private Partnerships; Jubril A. Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor; Rotimi Toluhi, CEO of Atorj Technologies; marketing strategist Damilola Adeyemi of RedrickPR; digital innovator Ebuka Chidube of The Exodigital Company; and Temidayo Adeyemi, Head of Operations at Blaque Swann Legal Practitioners.
Backed by partners such as McVities, Indulge Microfinance Bank, Lekan Adisa Foundation, and Silverbird, ASCEND 360 aims to go beyond inspiration. The event will foster networking, policy‑driven dialogue, and actionable strategies to reshape the future of Nigeria’s SMEs, creative industries, and career professionals.
Explaining the vision, Mrs. Adisa‑Obafemi remarked: “Passion and talent are powerful, but they are not enough. Too many businesses begin without the structures and protections needed to endure. ASCEND 360 is about bridging that gap — equipping entrepreneurs not just to survive, but to grow and thrive.”
