Microsoft Nigeria, in partnership with The Future Project, rewarded budding Nigerian entrepreneurs at the Demo Day held in Lagos on Saturday, 3 February, 2018, as participants in the initiative were provided opportunities to pitch their ideas and business projects to business executives and officials at the event.
With over 150 participants registered for the first stream in Lagos, young entrepreneurs were selected through intensive screenings and trainings on client relations, funding proposals, pitch presentations, as the top three businesses on the Demo Day were presented with cash rewards, even as the young entrepreneurs will be provided with funding and technological support by Microsoft.
Giving his keynote speech, Alex Yangs, the chief executive officer of RED, emphasized the importance of clarity and goal-oriented businesses, which are necessary for building socially-responsible and sustainable enterprises.
“Accelerate Labs, especially the Demo Day, is a journey of clarity for all the participants across Nigeria. More importantly, lot of businesses and ideas do not need money but clarity at the initial stage, so this initiative provides an immense platform to introduce the experience of established entrepreneurs and mentors from major sectors of the economy,” he explained.
Speaking with participants at the event, the Country General Manager, Akin Banuso promised that Microsoft will continue to support the initiative, as the young participants represent both the present and the future of the country.
“Many young Nigerians are innovative and enterprising, with new ideas consistently generated in different areas of the country. Microsoft understands that businesses can never be without risk, so we will keep supporting them through consistent investor engagement and providing them the necessary tools to build successful businesses,” he said.
The Microsoft executive also stated that Nigeria needs new ways of solving problems, and its youths are creators and entrepreneurs that can offer sustainable solutions to socio-economic problems due to their passion and commitment.
With over 2,160 businesses to supported through the initiative, trainings for participants in the second stream are set to be launched across Nigeria in February.
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About The Future Project
The Future Project has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.
Projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, YMonitor.org presented with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The Future Awards Africa, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.
Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East, including the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the Open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with the Africa Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.
About Red Media Africa
Red Media Africa (www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR & Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED. It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands andorganisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom-lines, and lead in their industries.
It has 6 major practice areas: Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice, Faith Practice and the International Practice – with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
It has been recognised with multiple local and international awards including the Gold SABRE Awards for PR Campaigns and the Young Lions PR competition for the next generation of creatives.