Eight promising young Nigerian entrepreneurs have been awarded grants of N250,000 each through the joint initiative of the British Council and Prince’s Trust International.
These enterprising individuals were announced as the recipients of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Challenge (TSEC) Programme, marking a significant achievement in youth empowerment and economic development.
Following a rigorous selection process, they emerged as the top contenders from a pool of sixty candidates, aged between 18 and 35 years old. Their innovative business ideas, pitched under the auspices of Nerdz Factory, captured the attention of a panel of five judges, securing them the prestigious grants.
The winners were categorised into two cohorts, each acknowledging different aspects of entrepreneurship.
Cohort One winners were Alero Thompson of Blue Sands Stem Labs for the Most Innovative Business Idea, Zenani Gbadume’s Mee Best Foods for the Most Societally Friendly Business Idea, Oluwatosin Rotimi’s Hems to Fit for the Most Profitable Business Idea, and Mansueah Shobulo’s Ecodey Management Resources for the Most Environmentally Friendly Business Idea.
In Cohort Two, Olabisi Emmanuel’s Eco Feet won the title of Most Innovative Business Idea, while Suss Flow, represented by Emmanuel Nnamdi, was recognised for the Most Societally Friendly Business Idea. Emmanuel Nnamdi’s Cattle Technology was lauded as the Most Profitable Business Idea, with Buy Scrap Nigeria clinching the title of Most Environmentally Friendly Business Idea.
The Country Director of the British Council, Lucy Pearson, expressed her admiration for the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian youth.
“This entrepreneurship challenge is a testament to the British Council’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the talents of young Nigerians. We believe in providing opportunities for young people to develop their skills and contribute to the economic prosperity of Nigeria,” she remarked.
Pearson commended the Lagos delivery partner, Nerdz Factory, for its dedication in executing the project successfully, one of the three pilot states.
She also extended gratitude to Prince’s Trust International for their invaluable partnership in designing and implementing the initiative.
Ade Olowojoba, the Founding Partner of Nerdz Factory, while congratulating all participants and emphasised the significance of the initiative in realising the dreams of young entrepreneurs, expressed gratitude to the British Council for sponsoring the entrepreneurship challenge.
As Nerdz Factory served as the delivery partner in Lagos, similar initiatives are underway in Enugu and Kano through partners Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (ENDIP Centre for Enterprise Development) and Centre for Information Development and Technology (CITAD) respectively.
This initiative stressed the British Council and Prince’s Trust International’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic growth in Nigeria. With plans to expand the program nationwide, the organisations remain dedicated to supporting the aspirations of Nigerian youth.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
