Five Nigerian start- ups receive € 135,000 from OCIF

CO- FOUNDER, Chekkit Technologies, T osin Adelowo; CEO of SALUBATA, Fela Akinse; Founder of Ecotutu, Babajide Oluwase; Founder of Machi, Nkechi Idinmachi; and Founder of Mainlotz Edge, Bamidele Joshua; have emerged winners at the Orange Corners Nigeria Business Pitch Competition.

It was disclosed in a statement that the entrepre - neurs ha ve access to a € 135,000 start- up capital of 75 per cent grant and 25 per cent loan provided by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Orange Corners Nigeria is an initiative of the Kingdom of The Netherlands implemented by Nigeria’s Foremost Enterprise Support Organisation, FA TE Foundation.

The programme was launched in Nigeria in 2019 and to date has supported 60 entrepreneurs with enterprise development training, business incuba - tion and advisory services, mentoring and funding valued over 180 million for prototype development and testing.

The businesses were assessed and the winners were decided by a jury comprised of the Deputy Programme Manager , Orange Corners, Tim Spaans; Head, Startups and Youth Enterprise, FA TE Foundation, Oge Nnaife and CSR and Sustainability Manager, Frieslandcampina WAMCO Plc, Ajulo Ojeawe.

Speaking at the event, Vice Consul Economic Affairs, Netherlands Consulate General, Lagos, Abel Neering, stated that the combination of technology, entrepreneurship and innovative ideas are vital for sustainable and green economic growth irrespective of the sector one operates in. According to him, the facilitation of entrepreneurship is crucial to solve tomor - row's and today’s chal - lenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGS).