By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some entrepreneurs, whose businesses promote sustainable development across Africa have been honoured at an event held on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.
The beneficiaries were honoured by Sahara Foundation, the personal and corporate social responsibility vehicle for Sahara Group, in collaboration with LEAP Africa, Ford Foundation, and Impact Investors Foundation.
At the event known as LEAP Africa Social Innovators Programme & Awards (SIPA) with the theme Reawaken, Redesign and Re-emerge: Africa Beyond Potential, participants discussed challenges that impede Africa’s growth and development with a keen focus on social entrepreneurship while providing novel strategies to enable the much-desired transformation.
Those honoured included Aminu Moses Rex, Michael Osumune, Olawale Thompson, Aliyara Assurance Oluchi, and Oluwamayowa Salu, from Nigeria. Also awarded were James Thuch Madhier from South Sudan; Ligare Allan Muliru from Kenya; Siwelwa Lazarous from Zambia; Lamin Ceesay from The Gambia; Gadi Banda from Malawi; and Albert Moghomaye from Cameroon.
Speaking at the event, Pearl Uzokwe, Executive Director at Sahara Foundation, lauded the Fellows for their efforts in creating innovations that promote social impact.
“We are excited to be part of this transformative partnership that is committed to bringing sustainable change to the African continent. We are also proud of our Fellows who have risen above the structural limitations and social barriers to solve societal problems.
“I urge you to put your training to good use, think beyond the profit and focus on doing good and doing well,” Uzokwe said.
Also, the founder of LEAP Africa, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, commended the partners for supporting the initiative and reiterated the need for impact investments for social entrepreneurs to scale sustainably.
She said, “We recognise that youth leadership and inclusion are critical to wealth creation and development across the continent.”
Nwuneli commended the African youths for leveraging their entrepreneurial abilities and innovation to solve Africa’s social problems, adding, “LEAP Africa will continue to raise and empower a movement of young African social entrepreneurs and enterprises capable of transforming Africa into the Africa of our dreams.”
