Abakaliki, Ebonyi State — What began as a modest trade fair has steadily grown into one of the South-East’s most anticipated business gatherings. The Pink Exhibition, a fast-rising enterprise platform for small business owners and creatives, once again drew hundreds of vendors and customers to Abakaliki for its latest edition, blending commerce, culture and community impact.
Convened by entrepreneur Maryann Chinelo Omege, popularly known as Mims, who is full of dreams and visions, the exhibition has built a reputation for helping emerging brands gain visibility, attract customers and scale beyond their immediate environment. Organisers describe it as more than a marketplace but a launchpad for grassroots entrepreneurs seeking exposure and opportunity.
Last year’s edition, tagged “Pink Exhibition 5.0: The Carnival Experience,” featured vendors across fashion, food, beauty, household goods and lifestyle products, transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of buying, selling and networking
Government-Backed Empowerment
In a move widely applauded by participants, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru extended financial support to selected vendors after the event as part of an empowerment initiative aimed at strengthening small and medium-scale businesses.
At the presentation, beneficiaries received cheques to help expand their operations, with state officials noting that such interventions were meant to promote sustainability, job creation and local economic growth. The state government described the exhibition as a practical vehicle for enterprise development in Ebonyi
Business observers say the backing has helped the exhibition gain credibility and attract more serious vendors each year.
Social Media Complaints Emerge
However, shortly after the event, some vendors took to Facebook to air concerns regarding the disbursement of the empowerment funds.
In several posts circulating online, a few participants alleged that certain production-based vendors expected to benefit from the financial support were either omitted from official lists or did not receive the funds they believed had been promised. One widely shared post featured a vendor claiming she was “schemed out” of about ₦3 million meant for beneficiaries.
Other posts called for clarification on how beneficiaries were selected and urged organisers to ensure greater transparency in future editions.
Around the same period, a separate issue surfaced involving the exhibition’s convener, Maryann Chinelo Omege, popularly known as Mims. A creditor publicly accused her of failing to repay money allegedly borrowed to support the staging of the fair, claiming the debt had risen to about ₦11 million.
But individuals familiar with the transaction offered a different account.
Sources close to Mims revealed that the actual loan obtained for the event was approximately ₦6 million released in tranches, not ₦11 million as widely circulated online.
They added that about ₦2.3 million had already been repaid, with the outstanding balance delayed by administrative and banking processes linked to the event’s finances.
Sources close to the organiser described the disagreement as a private financing matter that escalated on social media, noting that negotiations and repayment efforts were ongoing.
Bigger Picture
Nevertheless, many vendors described the exhibition as a valuable business opportunity and one of their most productive outings of the year.
Participants reported strong sales, increased foot traffic and meaningful engagement with customers across the three-day fair. For several small-scale entrepreneurs, it was their first time reaching such a large and diverse audience.
Beyond the immediate revenue, vendors said the exposure helped boost brand visibility, attract repeat buyers and open doors to partnerships that could sustain their businesses long after the event.
For first-time entrepreneurs especially, the Pink Exhibition continues to serve as a rare platform where small businesses can stand side-by-side with more established brands.
As preparations for future editions begin, stakeholders say clearer communication and improved coordination will be key to maintaining trust while preserving what has become one of Ebonyi’s most visible enterprise events.
For many young business owners in the state, the Pink Exhibition remains, at its core, a symbol of possibility proof that with the right platform, local ideas can grow into thriving ventures.
As one young trader shared, “Pink Exhibition didn’t just help me sell products it helped people remember my brand.”
