As part of Nigeria’s independence celebration in 1960, a trade fair was staged on Victoria Island in Lagos. The fair exposed to visitors, the potentials of Nigeria in agriculture, commerce, industry, tourism and culture. It was a one-time event. Several years after, individual organizations and foreign embassies began to organize trade fairs at different venues all over Lagos and a few commercial cities in the country. However, the Federal Government relaunched its interest in trade fairs when in November 1977 it staged an international trade fair at the then ultra-modern trade fair complex built by the government along Lagos/Badagry Expressway. A trade fair committee situated in the then Ministry of Trade organized the fair that was considered well attended by local and foreign companies. The committee turned the fair to an annual event and continued to organize and managed it until 1986 when the Federal Government handed the assignment over to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. From that moment on the Chamber has been in charge of the trade Fair which has continued to generate keen interest from far and near. Meanwhile, the online registration and booking for the 2019 edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair has begun. LCCI has opened the sales portal for the Fair on https://lagosinternational tradefair.com.ng. Director-General of LCCI, Muda Yusuf who disclosed this in Lagos added that the United Bank for Africa plc, UBA will be the official Headline Partner of this year’s Fair which will be the 33rd of the annual trade extravaganza reputed to be the largest in Africa South of the Sahara. Here is a brief on the Fair as compiled by the Chamber: Lagos International Trade Fair in Brief The Lagos International Trade Fair is the largest International Trade Fair in Nigeria. The spectacular 10-day event, usually begins on the first Friday in November of every year, since 1981. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the foremost highly influential in Nigeria, took over the organisation of the fair in 1986 and has been staging the fair annually to date. Within this period, the Lagos International Trade Fair has grown tremendously in popularity to become the leading forum for Trade and Business promotion in Nigeria, and indeed Africa. The Chamber is uniquely aware of the high standards expected of an International Trade Fair, and it is, therefore, constantly striving to live up to this expectation. Moreover, the Chamber comprises the ‘crème de la crème’ of Nigeria’s top business organisations and personalities, who are able and ready to enter business interactions with their counterparts all over the world. In recognition of its importance and usefulness, increasing numbers of exhibitors and visitors from all over Nigeria and the world at large are showing keen interest in, and patronising, the Lagos International Trade Fair. The Fair holds in Lagos, the Commercial and Industrial heartland of Nigeria, which is easily accessible by air, sea and land. The Fair has attracted both local and foreign exhibitors over the years. Since 1986 when the organisation of the Fair was taken over by LCCI, the participation of local and foreign exhibitors has been growing steadily. The Trade Fair in most recent years, had been held either at Tafawa Balewa Square in the heart of Lagos or the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Lagos-Badagry Expressway. This year, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. More importantly, competent and experienced members of the Trade Promotion Board, staff and contractors of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry are ever willing and ready to assist participants at the Fair by providing up-to-date business information and attend promptly to enquiries from exhibitors and visitors to the Fair. The Lagos International Trade Fair enjoys wide publicity in the electronic and print media before and throughout its ten (10) day duration and even after; thereby presenting a unique opportunity for Exhibitors to advertise their products, services, inventions and innovations to both Nigerian and Foreign participants. The Fair is usually supported by the Federal and Lagos State Governments as well as Organised Private Sector and is always well attended by numerous Government agencies seeking new ideas, inventions and innovations necessary for the attainment of the objectives for which they are set up. The Fair provides opportunities for various sector groups and professionals to present new products and new ideas. Also, our foreign visitors have the privilege of visiting places of interest in the country through our hospitality and tourism programme. Moreover, eminent dignitaries and policy makers from all over Nigeria visit the Fair on a daily basis throughout its duration. The Fair brings into focus the full potentials and business opportunities existing in Nigeria. For more information or enquiries, please contact: The Director, Trade Promotion Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commerce House, 1st Floor, 1, Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria, Island, Lagos. Tel: +234 8023 676 950; +234 8039 115 606; +234 8066 143 724, +234 8028 285 715; +234 8091 119 854, +234 8091 119 852 Email: dmtp@lagoschamber.com litf@lagoschamber.com