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Founder of Chezie, Toby Egbuna, has secured over $310k in grant funding – just capital to grow his company – from Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), NPR, and a host of other partners, without having to give up any equity or board seats. He has boiled it down to a simple framework, which he summarises as ‘CLEAR’1. Clarify your purpose – Figure out how to explain what you’ll do with the money.2. Log common responses – Build a database of responses to commonly asked questions.3. Explore opportunities – Find grant opportunities via trusted sources.4. Apply strategically – Apply to the…

Obieze Agbo – Founder, Remote Gravity [📸ObiezeAgbo] In Nigeria, a flat tyre doesn’t mean a frantic search for the nearest petrol station. Instead, you’re likely to be hunting for a ‘vulcaniser’ – a roadside mechanic specialising in tyre repair. While essential, these informal services often lack digital visibility, making it difficult for locals and visitors alike to find them. In comes Obieze Agbo, founder of Remote Gravity, a company based in Lagos, Nigeria, specialising in location data for emerging markets. Remote Gravity aims to bridge the user-vulcaniser gap. By mapping and digitising these types of informal businesses, the company will…

(L-R): Flora Uwadiegwu, Gabriella Uwadiegwu (Co-Founders, WeTech): “Let’s kick off 2025 on the right note. We can’t wait to see you there and hear your thoughts!” WeTech are excited to extend an invite to their very first Community Town Hall of the year 2025. This engaging session will be hosted on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, providing an opportunity to connect, discuss, and collaborate on the company’s shared vision for growth and impactful initiatives in 2025. Event Details: Date: January 24, 2025 Time: 6 PM WAT During the Town Hall, the company will share updates, set goals, and have meaningful conversations…

Financial Jennifer (Founder, FinTribe) Jennifer Awirigwe, popularly known as Financial Jennifer, is a Nigerian personal finance expert, investment banker, and the founder of FinTribe – a women-only finance community. Continuing her drive to help women build wealth through investments, she has announced the official opening of the FinTribe savings community, a registered community of intentional women who save and invest together. In addition to joining the community at no cost, Jennifer lists other benefits: We have partnered with UBA custodian and Afrinvest West Africa, both of whom are licensed firms,to ensure that our funds are expertly managed for safety and…

As the new MD/ CEO of Transcorp Hotels, Uzoamaka Oshogwe (L) receives a warm welcome from super-entrepreneur and Chairman at Transcorp Plc., Tony O. Elumelu [📸TonyElumelu] In December 2024, Transcorp Hotels Plc announced Uzoamaka Oshogwe’s appointment as its new Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025. She succeeds Dupe Olusola and is expected to lead the company into its next phase of growth, building on her extensive experience in the real estate and hospitality sectors. Says super-entrepreneur, Tony Elumelu (majority stakeholder in Transcorp Plc, owners of Transcorp Hotels): Delighted to welcome Uzoamaka Oshogwe, the new Managing Director/CEO of…

(R) President William Ruto In a significant step toward advancing Africa’s inclusive digital and green transformation, the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy (MICDE) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kenya School of Government, Konza Technopolis, and the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation, has launched the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling and the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub. Overseen by President William Samoei Ruto, the official launch of the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub at Konza Technopolis highlighted 43 African startups from 14 countries, dedicated to advancing green technology. The hub aims…

Ruka Sanusi (Executive Director, Ghana Climate Innovation Centre Ghana’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem has emerged as a driving force for innovation and economic progress in Africa. Centred on youth empowerment, technology, and climate solutions, quite a few remarkable innovation hubs and accelerators are fostering the transformation of ideas into scalable businesses. Here are some of them (in alphabetical order) and those at the helm: Ghana Climate Innovation Center (led by Ruka Sanusi and Dr. Dramani Bukari) Ghana Innovation Hub (Richard Yeboah) Ghana Tech Lab (George Kwadwo Appiah) HapaSpace (Gideon Brefo) HOPin Academy (MacCarthy Mac-Gbathy) Impact Hub Accra (Will Senyo and Kelechi…

Visa have announced investments in four African fintech startups – Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORDA – each offering digital solutions tailored to address key financial and logistical challenges in African markets.  Having recently graduated from Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator programme, meet the startups: ORDA Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa): Serving the food service sector, ORDA offers cloud-based software to over 1,500 restaurants, supporting everything from order processing and inventory management to financial services—allowing these businesses to optimise operations and scale more efficiently. ORDA Africa was co-founded in 2020 by Guy Futi, Fikayo Akinwale, Mark Edomwande, Kunle Ogungbamila, and Namir El-Khouri. Meghan McCormick…

Winners of the Bank & Entrepreneur ‘Agropreneurship Challenge’ (L-R): Chef Mnenim Ekerete, Temitope Efelegbon Coker, Sheila Kevin Tivlumun, Chef Fisayo Ibitara, Oyebode Oyeleke (the grape farmer), and Delight Azubike. Their insightful food and drink recipe suggestions revealed rich platter variety across Nigeria’s regions, as well as some little-known healthy food benefits Bank & Entrepreneur Africa recently invited Nigerians to enter its Africa Foodpreneur Challenge, where they were asked to share their favourite nutritious food & drink for a chance to win edibles from four awesome Nigerian SMEs. The Challenge got a whole lot tastier thanks to the four incredible vendors…

Founder at Eti Farms Global, Etimbuk Imuk Etimbuk Imuk (Founder, Eti Farms Global) has been honoured with a prestigious nomination for the Future Awards Africa, a recognition that celebrates exceptional young Africans making significant contributions in their fields. Known for her impactful work in agriculture, especially in the area of mushroom farming, Imuk’s nomination for the Agriculture Prize highlights her dedication and influence within the community. Influential ‘Wizard Farmer’, Samson Ogbole (an agronomist and innovative farmer) took notice and has thrown his weight behind her (see video) . Imuk responds: Thank you so much Farmer Samson Ogbole for this.It means…