The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (IFEDS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has announced plans to host its highly anticipated 2026 International Conference, a landmark gathering expected to bring together leading academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, business executives, and development experts from across the globe to chart new pathways for sustainable economic growth through entrepreneurship and innovation.
Scheduled to hold from November 24 to 26, 2026, the conference will be held under the theme: “The Entrepreneurial University: Driving Innovation, Policy, and Enterprise for Sustainable Global Development.”
The event is poised to serve as a premier platform for robust intellectual engagement, policy dialogue, and strategic networking, with participants examining the critical role of entrepreneurial universities in shaping the future of enterprise, technology, job creation, and sustainable development.
A specialized institute of Obafemi Awolowo University, IFEDS has continued to distinguish itself as a leading centre for entrepreneurship education, research, innovation, enterprise development, and capacity building. Through its programmes and initiatives, the institute is fostering a new generation of innovators and business leaders while bridging the gap between academic theory and practical enterprise development.
The conference is expected to feature an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers and business leaders. The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, will serve as the Chief Host, while the Director of IFEDS, Professor Mrs. C.A.O. Akinbami, will host the event.
The keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Dotun Daniel Adekunle, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of OPay Nigeria, whose insights are expected to spotlight the intersection of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Other notable guest speakers include Dr. (Mrs.) Olubukola Adubi, Chief Executive Officer of MicCom Cables & Wire Limited, and Pharm. (Alhaji) Taofik Oladipupo Odukoya, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Pharmacy Limited, both of whom have built successful enterprises that continue to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s industrial and healthcare sectors.
Organisers say participants will gain valuable exposure to cutting-edge ideas, emerging trends, policy perspectives, investment opportunities, and practical strategies for enterprise growth. The conference is also expected to provide a unique avenue for professional networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among scholars, innovators, business leaders, and development practitioners.
In line with global best practices and inclusivity, the event will be hosted in a hybrid format, enabling participants from different parts of the world to attend either physically or virtually.
As anticipation builds, IFEDS has extended an open invitation to academics, students, entrepreneurs, corporate organisations, investors, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to participate in what promises to be one of the most impactful entrepreneurship and development conferences of 2026.
With entrepreneurship increasingly recognised as a catalyst for economic transformation, wealth creation, and sustainable development, the conference is expected to position Obafemi Awolowo University and IFEDS at the forefront of global conversations on innovation-driven growth and enterprise development.
Signed
Dr. T.F. Jiboye
Chairperson, Local Organising Committee (LOC), IFEDS 2026
Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (IFEDS)
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
