By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Ondo State, Nigeria, took center stage at the Global Press Conference of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) 2025, held today at Hotel Sky, Sandton, Johannesburg. The event served as a high-profile platform to showcase Ondo as a rising hub for innovation, enterprise, and global investment.
Addressing a distinguished audience of government officials, diplomats, investors, and entrepreneurs, GEF Project Lead, Dr. Summy Smart Francis, described Ondo as “a land where infrastructure meets innovation.” He emphasized the state’s investor-friendly policies, expanding infrastructure, and strategic focus on entrepreneurship and sustainability.
“This isn’t just about attending a festival; it’s about discovering a market brimming with untapped opportunities,” Francis stated. “Ondo is open for business.”
He formally invited global entrepreneurs, investors, and partners to GEF 2025, set to take place in Ondo State from November 21–23, 2025. The festival, themed “The AI-Powered Entrepreneur: Creating a Sustainable Future,” will attract entrepreneurs, policymakers, business leaders, and innovators from across the world.
Exciting Lineup at GEF 2025:
The festival will feature:
Global Leadership Forum International Women’s Congress
Deal Rooms & Trade Exhibitions
Entrepreneurs Investment Program
Global Entrepreneurs Award Ceremony
Nancy Taiye Aragbaiye, GEF USA Country Director, described Ondo as a symbol of possibility, saying, “From Ondo to the world, GEF is creating global visibility for Africa’s brightest ideas and boldest entrepreneurs.”
As the GEF global tour continues, all eyes are now on Ondo State, a destination poised to welcome the world’s best minds and biggest investors.