25 entrepreneurs emerge in FIIRO House Africa’s TV reality show

More than 25 entrepreneurs have emerged at the FIIRO House Africa’s First Industrial TV Reality Show, which aims to promote indigenous technologies for rapid industrialisation of the national economy, job creation and reduction of unemployment rate.

Lanre Shonekan, chief executive officer, Lashone Links Group of Companies, who disclosed this at the audition for the Africa’s First Industrial Reality TV Show in Lagos, said that only 25 entrepreneurs were able to make it to the next stage, out of 10,000 youths that applied for the competition.

Shonekan noted that the selection was tough, as they had to go to all the geopolitical zones of the country to select the best 25 entrepreneurs who have made it to the next stage.

He listed the centres where selections were done to include FIIRO for South West; Abuja for North Central; Kano for North West, and Anambra for South East.

He explained that the 25 entrepreneurs would be kept in a house for six weeks where they would be further be exposed to more FIIRO’S R&D technologies.

“We are expecting that the task will be done every day in the house but most importantly, every Sunday. The audition will be live on Superscreen TV where Nigerians will be allowed to vote for their best choice online,” he said.

According to him, the winners of the first, second and third positions would go home with N25 million, N15 million and N10 million respectively.

“It will promote indigenous technologies and local content among industrial practitioners, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, as well as provide quality sales programming both online and on television.

“The programme will connect and promote interest of the Nigerian youthful population, especially the unemployed youths and prospective entrepreneurs in indigenous technologies’ solution for manufacturing and production.

Speaking at the event, Ananaba Anuihe, director of programmes, Superscreen TV, said the competition would provide an opportunity for unemployed youths to be gainfully employed.

He stated that this is first reality TV show in Nigeria and in Africa that will promote indigenous technologies’ solution for manufacturing and production. “We’re participating in this show in order to encourage Nigerian youths.”

One of the selected participants, who spoke on behalf of others, Ajiroghene Omanudhone from Delta State, who is into recycling of plastic waste for furniture for schools, said this is the first of its kind in Nigeria, where entrepreneurs would be given a start-up capital to establish industry.

He noted that this kind of initia- tive should be encouraged by the government and the private sector as this is the only way to provide employment for the nation’s teeming youths.

Speaking in the same vein, another participant, Gbene- Nnah Dumdebabari from Rivers State, who is into snail farming, said that government should encourage the organiser of the programme to take it to the next level.

“It is time the youths of this great country, Nigeria, are encouraged by the government to go into entrepreneurship,” she stated, adding that “this is a good idea which will enable the winners to establish their own industries and be able to employ more people and reduce unemployment in the country.”