No fewer than 100 small and medium enterprises, SMEs, are expected to showcase their products and services at the first major SME trade fair in Edo State, as Benin City prepares to host the Taste of Edo on October 1 and 2, 2026.
The two-day fair, which will hold at Reign Event Center, Sapele Road, Benin City, is expected to attract more than 2,000 visitors and provide a platform for local businesses to connect with new customers, create jobs and expand their operations.
The event, convened by Elijah Okpogie, Founder of Vauchly, and hosted by Dr. Angel Emofonmwan, is being supported by Oredo Local Government Area and the Edo State Government.
The fair will feature businesses across several sectors, including food and beverages, fashion, technology, artisanal and traditional products, real estate, education, health and wellness, entertainment and automotive services, among others.
According to the organisers, the event is designed not merely as a two-day commercial gathering but as a platform for sustained growth and formalisation of the state’s SME ecosystem.
Speaking on the initiative, Okpogie said the support of Oredo Local Government had been critical to the organisation of the fair.
“Gabriel Iduseri’s commitment to this event has been exceptional,” he said.
“Beyond endorsement, the chairman has provided the resources, security infrastructure, and active support that make this fair viable and secure for vendors and visitors.
“That level of government backing transforms what could be a one-off event into a foundation for sustainable SME growth in Edo State.”
At the state level, Hon. Chris Okaeben, Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, also described the fair as an important platform for promoting the state’s creative and commercial potential.
“This fair exemplifies what happens when we create space for our entrepreneurs to thrive,” Okaeben said.
“Taste of Edo showcases the talent, innovation, and products that define Edo State’s economic potential.”
The organisers said a major feature of the initiative was its focus on ensuring that participating businesses continued to have access to customers after the fair.
The fair is powered by Vauchly, a location-based jobs and services marketplace which handles vendor registration, logistics coordination and customer access.
Under the arrangement, participating vendors will remain listed on the Vauchly platform after the fair, enabling them to continue receiving customers and service requests across Benin City and beyond.
The organisers said the arrangement would activate more than 100 direct jobs during and after the event, while discounted participation rates would enable more SMEs to take advantage of the platform to market their products and services.
The food and beverage segment will showcase local restaurants and specialty food producers, while fashion vendors are expected to display designer wear, traditional attire and contemporary Edo fashion.
Artisans will also showcase crafts, textiles, home goods and other products associated with the state’s cultural heritage.
Technology and digital service providers, including tech startups, software developers, digital marketing firms and other innovation-driven businesses, are also expected to participate.
Other participating sectors include real estate, education, health and wellness, entertainment and automotive services.
The organisers said visitors would also benefit from negotiated rates across the different categories, while vendors would have the opportunity to increase their customer base and sales volume.
They described the collaboration involving Oredo LGA, the Edo State Government, local businesses and Vauchly as a model that could be replicated in other communities.
According to the organisers, the partnership combines government support and legitimacy with digital infrastructure and customer access, giving SMEs an opportunity to build sustainable business relationships beyond a single trade fair.
Taste of Edo is scheduled to hold from October 1 to 2, 2026, at Reign Event Center, Sapele Road, Benin City, with 100 vendors and more than 2,000 expected visitors.
The organisers said the initiative was aimed at connecting local vendors with customers, creating employment opportunities and demonstrating the commercial potential of Edo State.
