General
Entries Open for 2025 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector have been encouraged to enter for the 2025 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize for a chance to win $160,000 set aside by the organisers.
Applications for the contest opened today, Thursday, April 3, and will close on Tuesday, June 10, a statement made available to Business Post said.
The competition, in its seventh edition, is for promising young co-founders and founders across Africa who have launched businesses across the continent’s agrifood value chain “from seed to fork”.
Judges will be looking for innovative, scalable, and impact-driven agripreneurs not more than 35 years who have built tech-savvy, sustainable businesses tackling food security, job creation, and equitable economic growth.
Participants must be a citizen of an African Union member country, and must serve as a founder or co-founder of a legally registered venture operating in Africa, which must be registered by June 10, 2025.
In September 2025, GoGettaz finalists will pitch their businesses live on stage in Dakar, Senegal during the annual Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) taking place from August 31, to September 5, 2025.
Two grand prizes of $50,000 each will be awarded to the most outstanding male and female-led agribusinesses. An additional US$60,000 in Impact Awards will recognize businesses excelling in key areas such as technology, innovation, nutrition, food security, improving rural livelihoods, climate resilience, gender equity, natural resource conservation, and job creation.
“I am continually amazed by the ingenuity and determination of the young entrepreneurs we meet through the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition each year.
“Their ability to leverage technology and innovative business models showcases the immense potential of the agrifood sector and the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in sustainable development.
“As we launch the 2025 campaign, we are inspired by the opportunity to empower and support young entrepreneurs who are enhancing job creation, uplifting communities, and nourishing Africa’s growing population,” the chief executive of Yara International and co-founder of GoGettaz, Svein Tore Holsether, stated.
Also, the another co-founder of GoGettaz and chairman of Econet Group, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, said, “Africa’s youth are brimming with creative energy and ideas to solve myriad problems with innovative solutions.
“They aren’t waiting around for the perfect conditions; they are seizing the moment and embracing technology to revolutionize the agrifood industry across the continent,” he noted. “They are launching remarkable ventures, but to ensure they can grow and scale, our youth need the right support, access to capital, skills, and enabling environments to grow their young businesses into multimillion-dollar pan-African and global agribusinesses.
“Our amazing young entrepreneurs deserve both recognition and support, which is why GoGettaz exists.”
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition is an integral part of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will empower Africa’s young leaders for food systems transformation.
With the 2025 AFSF theme Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation, the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize competition is set to empower youth entrepreneurs from across West, Northern, Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa who looking to showcase, grow, and scale, their agrifood businesses.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) distributed a total of N1.5 billion to 6,129 students across three institutions in the country for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to an update on its verified X handle on Thursday, it was disclosed that the beneficiary schools include Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI) in Ekiti State, Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology in Ogun State, and the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences in Benin City, Edo State.
A breakdown of the documents noted that N1,360,920,800 was disbursed to Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ekiti State, covering 5,396 students across five tranches, N104,530,000 to Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, Omu-Ajose, Ogun State, covering 680 students, and N36,485,000 to the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, Benin City, Edo State, covering 53 students.
The largest disbursement went to BOUESTI, which received N1,360,920,800 across five tranches covering 5,396 students, followed by Sikiru Adetona College, which received N104,530,000 for 680 students, and the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, which received N36,485,000 covering 53 students.
The Registrar of Sikiru Adetona College, Dr Bukola Makinde, confirmed the funds had already reached individual students.
“The said money had since been disbursed into the bank accounts of the students’ beneficiaries,” she said, describing the support as enabling students “to enjoy financially hitch-free academic progress.”
The Provost of the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, Mrs Mabel Omobude, pledged full accountability in the use of the disbursed funds.
“The disbursement will be judiciously applied strictly for its intended educational purposes in tandem with global best practices,” she said, adding that the college reaffirms its “continued commitment to compliance, transparency, and accountability in the administration of this facility.”
BOUESTI Vice-Chancellor Prof. Andrew Babatunde Omojola confirmed receipt of the full N1,360,920,800 disbursed across five tranches and commended NELFUND’s leadership for delivering the funds efficiently.
“We hereby confirm the receipt of a total sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira only, being the total payment of the five tranches of student loan approved to 5,396 students of BOUESTI, disbursed for the 2025/2026 academic session,” he said.
“We want to appreciate the Federal Government and sincerely applaud the Managing Director of NELFUND and his team for their efforts and efficiency in ensuring the objectives of the scheme are achieved nationwide,” he added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr Bello Bodejo, has been arraigned before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for an alleged $2.33 million fraud.
Mr Bodejo was brought before the court on Thursday, July 9, 2026, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering.
At Thursday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu (SAN) drew the attention of the court to a 12-count charge application dated June 24, 2026, and filed June 25, 2026, urging the court to allow the defendant to take his plea to which the judge granted his request.
“That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo (male, adult), on or about the 11th day of January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force, which sum exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of 5 million prescribed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act,” Count one of the charge read.
The Count four stated, “That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo (male, adult), on or about the 7th day of February 2024, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of $980,000 in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force, which sum exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
After pleading “not guilty” to the charges, the prosecution counsel asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, while the defence counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), prayed the court to admit his client to bail in respect of his bail application, filed on June, 30, 2026.
The bail application was, however, strongly opposed by prosecution counsel, who drew the attention of the court to his counter-affidavit of 28 paragraphs, dated July 6, 2026.
He pointed out that the defendant is a public risk as the Department of State Security Services (DSS) is on the lookout for him, and that being an influential person, he may manipulate the witnesses and the progress of the case.
Justice Ekwo ordered the remand of the defendant in EFCC’s holding facility and adjourned the matter till July 20, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.
By Adedapo Adesanya
EMERGE, an acceleration platform powered by TheBoardroom Africa, has launched its digital platform to connect young African professionals with the skills, networks, structured support, and employer opportunities they need to build sustainable careers.
Industry stakeholders say Africa’s challenge is no longer a shortage of talent but the lack of systems that enable skilled professionals to advance their careers. Despite having the technical expertise and ambition, many workers struggle to access the mentorship, professional networks, career development programmes, and employer connections needed to sustain long-term career growth.
EMERGE will bring together the elements of career development, including structured learning, professional diagnostics, mentorship, peer support, employer engagement, and access to opportunity.
According to a statement, the organisers said – for professionals, EMERGE provides greater clarity, confidence, skills, visibility, and support to progress with intention. For employers, it creates access to a stronger, better-prepared, and more visible talent pipeline. For the wider economy, it helps more of Africa’s young professionals move into roles where they can contribute, lead, and grow, strengthening organisations and labour markets across the continent.
Developed with support from the Mastercard Foundation, EMERGE is already home to a growing community of more than 1,700 young African professionals, creating a powerful network of emerging talent across the continent. Around six in ten EMERGE members are women, reflecting a deliberate commitment to widening access for talented professionals who are too often overlooked by traditional career pathways. Open to professionals across the continent, EMERGE is building a more inclusive and representative pipeline for Africa’s next generation of leaders.
Speaking at the launch, the chief executive of TheBoardroom Africa, Mrs Marcia Ashong-Sam, said, “The issue has never been a lack of capable talent in Africa. The real challenge is that access to opportunity remains uneven, and career progression is too rarely supported in a structured, intentional way. EMERGE was created to change that. We are building the career infrastructure that too many young professionals have had to navigate without: a platform that helps them translate ambition and ability into sustainable, meaningful careers, while connecting employers to a stronger and better-prepared pipeline of African talent.”
The platform gives members access to a dynamic mix of live masterclasses led by industry practitioners, career-focused programming designed to build resilience and progression, self-paced courses through its Learning Hub, and thoughtfully selected career opportunities with some of Africa’s most innovative employers.
The EMERGE journey begins with the Leadership Compass, the platform’s proprietary baseline assessment, which gives each member a clearer view of where they are in their professional journey and where focused development could unlock the greatest growth. Insights from the assessment help shape a more personalised pathway through the EMERGE experience.
For employers, EMERGE offers a seamless way to invest in professional development at scale. Organisations can enrol staff cohorts on the platform, giving their teams continuous access to high-quality career development tools, masterclasses, learning pathways, and progression-focused support through the programmatic rhythm of the EMERGE experience.
Employers also benefit from aggregate cohort insights, enabling them to track progress, understand development priorities, and make more informed decisions about talent growth, retention, and internal mobility. In this way, EMERGE becomes more than a learning platform; it becomes a practical development pathway for building stronger, more prepared leadership pipelines from within.
Mrs Ashong-Sam added, “The needs of employers and professionals are closely connected. Employers want people who can grow with the business, contribute to strategy, and take on greater responsibility over time. Professionals want work that gives them progress, purpose, and financial stability. EMERGE brings both sides into the same conversation, with a focus on readiness, development, and opportunity.”
The platform reflects TheBoardroom Africa’s wider work to strengthen leadership ecosystems across the continent. Over the past decade, the firm has worked with senior executives, board leaders, and institutions across African markets and globally, giving it direct insight into the gaps that begin much earlier in people’s careers. EMERGE applies that experience at an earlier stage, supporting professionals before they reach senior roles and building a stronger pipeline of talent prepared for greater responsibility and decision-making.
EMERGE is open to professionals across Africa and will continue to expand its membership while engaging employers looking to strengthen their talent pipelines.
