The Arewa Festival 2025 recently concluded as a landmark event, signaling a powerful movement to restore Northern Nigeria’s legacy as a premier center for trade and culture. Hosted by the Tripoint Academy for Tourism and Enterprise Development in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network Lagos, the festival united tens of thousands of visionaries from all 19 northern states.
Timed to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week under the banner “Together, We Build,” the gathering served as a bridge between the region’s rich historical heritage and its future as a hub for modern innovation.
A Unified Regional Identity
Festival co-convener Muhammed Shuhda noted that the event was specifically designed to leverage the “Arewa” identity to foster unity. The goal was to bring northern business owners under a single platform to not only engage in commerce but to project a positive and industrious image of the region to the rest of the country.
The scale of the festival was significant, featuring:
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Massive Turnout: Over 30,000 participants engaged in activities across the North.
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Diverse Marketplace: A total of 871 SMEs and vendors exhibited a wide array of goods, ranging from traditional textiles and agricultural products to cutting-edge technology and creative services.
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High-Level Support: The event saw attendance from diplomatic figures like the Czech Ambassador, financial leaders from SANEF, and academic experts from the Pan-Atlantic University. The Emir of Kano was also represented, lending royal prestige to the proceedings.
The Launch of AREWATECH: A Blueprint for Growth
A pivotal moment of the festival was the unveiling of AREWATECH (Africa Rebuilds Economy with Agriculture, Trade, Entrepreneurship, Creatives, and Hospitality). This initiative is designed as a long-term strategic roadmap to revitalize the Northern economy.
Key objectives of AREWATECH include:
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Value Chain Optimization: Enhancing competitiveness in agriculture and cross-border trade.
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Youth Empowerment: Creating structured pathways for entrepreneurship and digital skills.
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Tourism and Arts: Promoting the region’s hospitality sector and its burgeoning creative economy.
A Touring Platform for Innovation
Dr. Olawale Anifowose, Managing Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria, revealed that the festival is set to become a traveling national platform. By taking the Arewa Festival to different regions of Nigeria, organizers intend to ensure that northern entrepreneurs and creatives have continuous exposure to diverse markets nationwide.
The two-day grand finale in Kano—complemented by masterclasses and business clinics across 18 other states—was a vivid display of the North’s potential. From vibrant Durbar displays and traditional culinary arts to modern fashion runways and tech innovation sessions, the festival proved that Northern Nigeria is ready to lead in the country’s evolving economic landscape.
