B3 Summit: Southeast Entrepreneurs Challenged To Turn Digital Presence Into Business Growth

B³ Summit: Southeast entrepreneurs challenged to turn digital presence into business growth

Entrepreneurs and professionals from across the Southeast have been challenged to move beyond consuming digital content and harness online platforms to promote their businesses, products and services to wider markets.

The charge was made by the convener of the Business, Balance and Beyond (B³) Summit, Dr. Ella Chioma Ezeadilieje, popularly known as Veronica’s Daughter, at the maiden Southeast edition of the summit held in Awka, Anambra State.

The event, held at the Anabel Event Centre along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, attracted thousands of participants from Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states.

Themed “Beyond the Bank: Redefining Wealth, Worth and Well-being,” the summit focused on business growth, health, personal development, relationships and financial well-being.

Ezeadilieje said the Southeast had no shortage of quality products and entrepreneurial talent but needed to improve its digital visibility and learn to use technology more strategically.

She said her experience of visiting Onitsha Market while preparing for the summit exposed the quality and affordability of products available in the region, but also highlighted the gap between what local businesses produce and their visibility online.

According to her, many businesses in the region work hard but have yet to fully embrace the digital tools that can help them reach customers beyond their immediate environment.

“I do not say the Southeast is not online. You are online, but you are mostly consumers. You are not the one whose content is being consumed. You are not the person carrying your market to the world,” she said.

The convener said the summit was built around three interconnected areas—health, business and relationships—arguing that true wealth should not be defined only by financial resources.

She expressed concern that many people prioritise wealth while paying less attention to their health and relationships, stressing that well-being required a balance among all three.

As part of the summit's practical activities, participants had access to free health checks, while entrepreneurs were offered a ₦5 million grant opportunity.

Ezeadilieje also identified access to funding and digital tools as two areas requiring greater attention among entrepreneurs in the Southeast.

She highlighted the importance of business management technology, citing Bumpa, one of the summit's partners, as an example of a platform that could help businesses improve inventory management and organisation.

The summit featured presentations and panel discussions involving entrepreneurs, professionals and public figures, including Nollywood actress and humanitarian Rechael Okonkwo; Engineer Chidomere Ndubuisi, Managing Director of Pamtech Group; and health communicator Dr. Kelechi Okoro.

Other speakers and panellists included Chief Joseph Ezeadilieje, Ifeanyi Ogbaji, Arc. Chukwudi Ezenwa, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan and Kelvin Onovo.

The discussions were moderated by media strategist and SurThrive Media founder, Dr. Chioma Ezenwafor, and Ms Myra Nwanneka Bright.

Sponsors and partners included Tiger Foods, Union Bank, Studio 24 and Power Oil, while the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency announced a strategic partnership with the organisers.

Ezeadilieje also commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, for the One Youth Two Skills initiative, which she said aligned with the summit's emphasis on personal and economic development.

The B³ Summit, which began in Port Harcourt in 2024, held its first Southeast edition in Anambra State as part of its expansion beyond its original location.