By Adedapo Adesanya
Eight winners emerged from the Sustainable Enterprise Challenge Programme (TSECP), sponsored by the British Council and Prince’s Trust International (PTI) and implemented by Nerdzfactory.
The initiative, introduced to allow companies building for a sustainable future to hone the skills essential for navigating the modern business landscape, produced 16 finalists and eight winners, each receiving N250,000.
The scheme saw 56 participants trained over four weeks, and the most effective 16 were selected from the rigorous programme.
Among the winners were Blue Sands Stem Labs for the Most Innovative Business Idea; Mee Best Foods for the Most Societally Friendly Business Idea; Hems to Fit for the Most Profitable Business Idea; and Ecodey Management Resources for the Most Environmentally Friendly Business Idea.
Others included Eco Feet, a PlastiBuild company, for the Most Business Idea; Suss Flow for the Most Societally Friendly Business Idea; Cartle Technology for the Most Profitable Business Idea; and BuyScrap Nigeria for the Most Environmentally Friendly Business Idea.
Speaking at the grand finale last Friday in Lagos, the British Council Country Director, Ms Lucy Pearson, said the UK supported the competition to help Nigeria’s booming young population navigate growing economic disadvantages.
She said the initiative was targeted at providing young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Ms Pearson noted that the aim was to create positive pathways for young people in their communities and to contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.
“The British Council also works across education, the arts, and culture to develop young people’s skills to give them positive pathways and skills for employability. So, this is one piece of the puzzle,” she said.
Adding his input, the British Council Director of Programmes for Nigeria, Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, said that the council has always focused on creating opportunities for young people in the country, adding that more of such will come.
“This is a pilot; the purpose of piloting is to cook up concepts. We are piloting it in the ranges of Enugu and Kano. The closure event is happening in Lagos today,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Founding Partner of Nerdzfactory Company, Mr Ade Olowojoba, Mr Matthew Ozigbo, a business partner, expressed enthusiasm about the competition and the impactful partnership the organisation has with the British Council and PTI.
He said the goal of the scheme is to significantly impact youth entrepreneurship, job creation, and skill development, empowering individuals.
“Witnessing the growth of participants over the course of the programme has been incredibly rewarding,” he stated.
The supervisor, Mrs Omozele Umoren, stated that the initiative utilised a variety of engaging and learning methods, including interactive workshops, breakout sessions, mentorship sessions, and group discussions that were relevant to their entrepreneurial journey.
“The participants during the course of the four weeks were equipped with digital marketing skills and relevant technological skills that will help them enhance and grow their businesses,” she said.
