Business
Corpreneurship Challenge: Unity Bank Splashes N10M Grant On 30 Corps Members
Olushola Okunlade Writes
Unity Bank Entrepreneurship Development Initiative – Corpreneurship Challenge, targeted at empowering fresh graduates and Corp Members on one-year compulsory national youth service has, in its ninth edition of the Corpreneurship Challenge held across 10 States recently, doled out N10 million grant to 30 winners.
The winners emerged after a business pitch presentation held across 10 States; namely, Rivers, Delta, Sokoto, Edo, Abuja, Akwa-Ibom, Osun, Kano, Bayelsa, and Enugu, with each state producing three winners who took home cash grants of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000.
The winners of this ninth edition included Corp Members focusing on developing entrepreneurship in renewable energy, fashion, beauty, agro-processing, confectionaries, etc.
Some of the winners at the Rivers State NYSC Orientation camp at Nonwa Gbam Tai included Muoneke Gift, whose business plan on renewable energy took home the grand prize of N500, 000; followed by Ilesanmi Olamide’s business proposal on beauty services to claim the N300, 000-business grant for first runner up. Ekanem Moses Idoreyin’s confectionary business proposal took home the N200, 000 grant.
The winners emerged after their business plans were assessed by a panel looking out for business ideas that demonstrate originality, marketability, future employability potential of the product, and knowledge of the business.
The Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has gradually joined the league of some of the most impactful, youth-focused entrepreneurship development initiatives in Nigeria, empowering no fewer than 100 young entrepreneurs over the past three years.
Recently, one of the beneficiaries in Sokoto, Beulah Yusuf, who emerged as second runner-up in one of the editions successfully launched her recycling business with the grant received from the Bank. She unveiled her products widely acclaimed for addressing environmental pollution and waste management inefficiencies, underscoring the Bank’s motivations to sustain the initiative.
Speaking during the finale at Rivers State NYSC Orientation Camp recently, the Group Head, Retail, E-Business, and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Olufunwa Akinmade, said the Bank was delighted with the impressive records the Corpreneurship Challenge has pulled so far.
“When we launched the initiative in 2019, we set out to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs that will disrupt the job market by creating much-needed jobs across all sectors. Today, we have come a long way and the Corpreneurship Challenge has lived up to its billing.”
Represented by Regional Manager, Port Harcourt Region, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Eto Ukpe, Akinmade reiterated the Bank’s commitment to sustaining the initiative and mainstreaming the Corpreneurship Challenge as a reliable and impactful entrepreneurship and business empowerment and mentorship program in the country.
“What we have today in the labour market is far from the ideal. However, it is not enough to keep complaining. We must make lemonade out of lemon. We believe that the Corpreneurship Challenge has proved to be one of the most creative approaches to tackling the intractable crisis we have in the job market in Nigeria.”
“Our goal is to expand this program to all 36 states and sustain it for as long as possible to achieve record impact. We continue to encourage the winners to continue to learn the rudimentary lessons necessary to build a successful business. We emphasize that the budding entrepreneurs who take part in this initiative constantly think about the challenges they will face and put the same energy they all have displayed in preparing for this contest in their businesses as they face their post-service year ahead.”
The Corpreneurship Challenge, which has earned the Bank national recognition for its impact on youth empowerment and job creation, has continued to elicit growing interest among the corps members, attracting over 2000 applicants and participation in every edition.
In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, the initiative prominently features a business pitch presentation that provides the participants with the opportunity to present their business plans and stand a chance to win up to N500, 000 cash in the business grant.
So far, Unity Bank has invested over N100 million in the initiative which has now produced 118 winners since it was launched in 2019.
Rashidat Okunlade Writes
Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact International PLC, has bagged Business Day’s Top 25 CEOs award in recognition of his company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Speaking during the award ceremony last weekend in Lagos, the publisher, Business Day Media Ltd., Mr. Frank Aigbogun stated that the award is more than just a recognition ceremony, but a reward for excellence, innovation, and drive for positive change.
According to the publisher, the eTranzact boss and other awardees have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, resilience and relentless pursuit of a result of success and this remarkable achievement in growing market value within the period of review stands them out as industry leaders, serving as a beacon of inspiration, admiration and respect from their peers and stakeholders alike.
“This has made us gather to celebrate your achievements, passion, and your dedication to excellence. As we recognize the countless hours of hard work, sleepless nights, and sacrifices that go into building and leading a successful business, your resilience in the face of challenges is truly commendable and it is an honour to acknowledge and celebrate your triumphs,” he concluded.
Responding after the award, Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope said the award is a testament to what they have been doing in the financial technology sector within the past 20 years.
Left-Right: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay presenting Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope : MD/CEO, eTranzact Plc the award recognition of the company’s stellar performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the Top 25 CEOs Award in Lagos.etra
Toluwalope said: “This award means a lot to us since we began the journey of transformation as an organisation a couple of years ago.”He believed the board, the management, and the entire team have worked very hard to reimagine strategy, focusing extensively on execution capability. “We have built more partnerships, deepened our collaboration with the government, private sector, with lots of our financial service partners. The quality of products and solutions we offer coupled with the investment we have made in technology infrastructure is the outcome of all we are seeing now in terms of our improvement and top performance.”
“As one of the top fintech companies in the country, having been around for over 20 years, doing great things and setting new standards and creating pioneer products and solutions, these are the things that have created the pillars which we stand on today, which is what is creating this visibility and identification we are seeing and benefiting from,” he said. It is worth noting that, eTranzact under the leadership of Mr. Toluwalope recorded the highest-ever profitability in the 20-year history of the company in its 2022 financial year.
The company is already on the upward trajectory to build on the gains of the performance by continually providing world-class solutions and products to its discerning clients which cuts across both public and private sectors.
…as BusinessDay honour Top 25 CEOs
Rashidat Okunlade Writes
Nnamdi Okonkwo, Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, has bagged outstanding CEO in the just concluded Top 25 CEOs Awards organized by BusinessDay that was held at the Ballroom of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.
Left-Right: Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.
In this year’s edition of the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs, the publication recognised 25 Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors of various listed firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) who experienced outstanding financial development and also made important contributions to their respective industries.
FBNHoldings team that graced the event are Adewale Arogundade, Acting Company Secretary, FBNHoldings, Tolu Oluwole, Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Nweke (Junior), former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Oyewale Ariyibi, Executive Director, Finance FBNHoldings, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay, and Wasiu Shafe, Financial Controller, FBNHoldings.
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