The Next Titan: How HB Turns Young Entrepreneurs into Business Magnates
As the search for The Next Titan Season 8 kicks off, Funke Olaode chronicles how the Reality TV show, eight year-long, has continued to be the driving force in changing the economic landscape of Nigeria and how the unwavering support of the financial giant and lead sponsor of the show, Heritage Bank propels greenhorns into becoming successful entrepreneurs.
For the past eight years, a reality TV show tagged the Next Titan has continued to redefine the economic landscape of Nigeria for young entrepreneurs. Within 10 weeks at the show on every season, the audience have seen them metamorphosed from greenhorns into business icons. There’s no doubt that Africa boasts of some of the fastest growing economies in the world. And Nigeria is at the centre of economic discourse for its huge population and potential for investment. Hence, the possibilities of unearthing innovation, creativity, talents and uncovering the next super innovators and successful entrepreneurs are endless.
In Nigeria, The Next Titan is one entrepreneurial reality show that is consistently dedicated to unleashing and nurturing potential in the contestants. The show which has the backing of Heritage Bank promotes team work and personal effort and how these can determine the contestants’ lot at the show.
Created to fill the gap and eliminate the deficiencies in knowledge of young entrepreneurs and idea owners, the contestants are trained to become change agents with the required skillset to produce socially-viable products and services. The show empowers young entrepreneurs with the required support and resources that will ensure that their businesses and ideas can scale and drive sustainable change in their local communities and the country at large.
In the past eight years, The Next Titan has hosted tens of thousands of entrepreneurs beginning with nationwide auditions. Today, all the past winners have built businesses that have now created jobs for other young Nigerians. It is inspiring to hear that two of its past winners won Forbes
under 30 Entrepreneurs in Africa in 2019 and 2020. During an interactive session with selected journalists recently, the organisers announced that the show is about to develop the next group of entrepreneurs who will make significant impact on the socio-economic development of the nation.
According to the Executive Producer, Mide Akinlaja, “The Next Titan Nigeria is not only about the winners on TV, but more importantly about multitude of aspiring entrepreneurs and young Nigerians who by watching the show can feel challenged and develop change of minds and thereafter decide to turn their potential into wealth of the country.’’
Akinlaja’s view was corroborated by one of the Judges and Chairman, CPMS Africa, Chris Parkes. “The Next Titan plays a vital role in the development of Nigeria by demonstrating and practically inspiring with the skills needed to get the youths off the street and into business. It is believed that that the feedback interactions with the contestants on the show during the boardroom session are not only beneficial to the contestants but also to the generality of viewers,” he added.
Of significance is the reality TV show’s impact on the lives of many contestants who did not win the competition but have gone ahead to convert the business lessons learnt on the show into sustainable businesses.
Lilian Olubi, a Judge on the show and CEO of EFG Hermes Nigeria said: “As a firm believer in SMEs being the engine house of any economy, I find The Next Titan Nigeria to be an extremely enriching yet entertaining programme; by scouting for entrepreneurs, grooming them through rigorous tasks and boardroom process, and eventually funding a winner’s idea in my opinion is a big contribution to the socioeconomic development of our country Nigeria.’’
In his remarks, the founder of Sahara Group, who is also a Judge on the show, Tonye Cole, said: “I believe strongly in the Nigerian youth and their capacity to make a lasting impact on the nation’s future. The Next Titan provides a unique platform for Nigerian youths to showcase one of the talents we have that is grossly under-appreciated which is our entrepreneurial spirit.”
Cole added that the show harnesses entrepreneurial spirit to a level that fosters competitiveness and showcases the rewards that go with paying attention to one’s dream and pursuing it with a focus and determination to succeed.
As business successful gurus lent their voices, they are of the views that Nigeria as a nation needs to focus on laudable projects like this so as to reach the teeming youths who have the option of pursuing illicit lifestyle, particularly in light of recent events. Nigeria needs to put more emphasis on entrepreneurially focused and laudable initiatives such as The Next Titan, that saddles its recipients with skills on how to be useful to themselves and the society at large thereby leading to reduction of poverty, and generation of income and economic diversification which will help reduce overdependence on government and oil revenue, hence leading to economic growth and development.
While reflecting on some of the previous winners of The Next Titan, Iroghama Ogbeifun, Founder, HAIRVEN Limited, and the Season One winner revealed that she has created jobs for over 50 persons not only that, her smart business acumen and brilliance had complemented the training she received at the show which prepared her for her current role as the Managing Director/CEO of Starzs Investments Company Limited based in Port Harcourt.
“The show changed a lot of things about me, as so many impossible tasks were made possible within 72 hours on the live show. Over the last eight years, I have replicated the experiences gathered in my business endeavours,” she said.
Other winners who are successful in their different sectors are Davies Okeowo, Founder, Entrepreneur Hills; Marvis Marshal Idio, who is in the unique business idea of turning trash into furniture; Kennedy Iyeh, the Founder, BlueLeaf Farms; Oge Obah, a skin care entrepreneur; Amifeoluwa Yakubu, a garment manufacturer; and Joshua Idiong who emerged as the Season 7 winner and went home with ten Million Naira Grand Prize. Joshua founded Josult Oil, a company that specialises in palm oil processing. He has been able to produce palm oil through a more efficient method and provides job.
However, other participants on the show who did not win have been able to turn their business lessons on the show into successful ventures. These are so numerous to mention. For instance, Ronald Ajiboye, a first-class Graduate of a Russian University has groomed his business idea of drone making; Victoria Mamza, Founder of Wangarau Foods who has today created jobs for a lot of people; Chichi Eriobu, the founder of Ukwa Foods; Tinuade Olanrewaju, a successful entrepreneur and founder of PhysioCraft with branches in Abuja and Lagos.
The board of judges of the show are seasoned entrepreneurs and captains of industry, such as Kyari Bukar former Chairman, NESG; Tonye Cole, Founder, Sahara Energy Group; Chris Parkes, Founder of CPMS Africa; and CEO, EFG Hermes Nigeria, Lilian Olubi. They have over the years devoted their time to providing mentorship, inspiration and guidance to the teeming youth who have been on the show and millions of viewers.
As entrepreneurship continues to be a means of economic development and job creation for youth across the world, The Next Titan critically reveals insights into the divergent cultural factors that influence the entrepreneurial journey in Nigeria, thereby helping the contestants to create the concluding point to some patterns and qualities that promote entrepreneurial success.
The show is open to entrepreneurs across Nigeria, both new start-ups and existing ones.
While celebrating the success stories of the contestants and their various businesses, the organisers felt it is equally important to also celebrate the unflinching support of the major sponsor of the show, Heritage Bank Plc which has over the years remained committed to the show helping young entrepreneurs, a testimony to the bank’s creed of being “Your timeless Wealth partner”. Other partners include SIFAX Group, Haven Homes amongst others.
Rounding off the interactive session, Mide Akinlaja said the 2021 Season 8 Special edition tagged, “THE UNCAGED” seeks to address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lifting millions out of poverty and creating sustainable jobs across the country. The Season 8 is in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports under its youth development initiative, “Nigeria Youth Investment Fund.”
“I believe strongly in the Nigerian youth and their capacity to make a lasting impact on the nation’s future. The Next Titan provides a unique platform for Nigerian youths to showcase one of the talents we have that is grossly underappreciated which is our entrepreneurial spirit.”