ADIRE ENTREPRENEUR TOPS OGUN MSME PITCH, WINS N1M; SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS GET GRANTS

 

An Adire and waste-to-wealth entrepreneur, Joy Oluyege, has emerged the overall winner of the Pitch Challenge at the Ogun State MSME Business Clinic 3.0, clinching the N1 million grand prize, while several other entrepreneurs received N50,000 grants each to support and grow their businesses.

The event, themed “Empowering Businesses, Shaping the Future,” also saw Ayokunlemi Oshin emerge as first runner-up, winning N500,000, while Olayemi Ayobanjo came second runner-up to earn N250,000. Toyosi Ijaola and Opeoluwa Babajide finished as third and fourth runners-up respectively, receiving N100,000 each.

In addition, 50 entrepreneurs benefited from free business name registration, while the Ogun State Government also paid for product registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for 25 participants.

The grants and other support for MSMEs were provided even as the State government reiterated its commitment to enterprise development, noting that since the inception of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration, over 12,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have benefited from grants ranging from N100,000 to N500,000.

Speaking during the presentation of cheques to winners and beneficiaries at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, said the administration recognises the critical role MSMEs play in wealth creation, employment generation and industrial development.

He added that the government has continued to give the sector the necessary support to enable small businesses thrive.

Sofela urged the winners and beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds and other opportunities provided through the Business Clinic to expand their enterprises.

“While this platform provides the tools and opportunities, the real transformation will come from what you do with them. Your growth is the ultimate measure of our success,” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Kehinde Akintomide, explained that beneficiaries of the grants were selected through a transparent Artificial Intelligence-driven process that ensured equal opportunity for all participants.

Responding on behalf of the winners, the grand prize recipient, Oluyege, commended the state government for organising the pitch competition, assuring that the prize money would be used to expand her business and train more youths.

Also speaking, one of the grant beneficiaries, Mrs. Omowunmi Ajayi, expressed surprise at receiving the grant and urged the government to sustain such initiatives for small businesses.

Meanwhile, awards were presented to outstanding organisations at the event. The Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) won the BMO of the Year Award, House of Jade received the Women-Led Excellence Business Award, while International Breweries Plc was named the MSME Most Supportive Organisation.