In an effort to drive grassroots development and economic empowerment, the Mary Ojulari Foundation has awarded a total of $105,000 in investment grants to 21 young entrepreneurs across Nigeria. This announcement was made during the inaugural Vanguard Fellowship Awards & Networking Cocktail Party, held at the Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos Island, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The entrepreneurs, 18 of whom are women and three are men, were selected from a pool of 50 participants who successfully completed the Foundation’s intensive two-week Ignite Bootcamp. The bootcamp followed a rigorous selection process, with over 500 applications initially submitted.
Each of the 21 recipients was awarded $5,000 to help scale their businesses, which span various sectors, including agriculture, technology, food, fashion, health, and social enterprise. The selected entrepreneurs include Jidechukwu Nwabueze of Jelapetra Farms Limited, Apelehin Oluwatoyin of Inspire Agro Centre, Olaleye Rofiat Olayinka of Eco Heroes, Hyacinth Orji of QuickWaka, Adetutu Olatunji of Two Event and Catering Services, Temitayo Oluyege of May Coutures, Oyebukola Oyeyemi of Oyecube Farms, Nkechi Gift Uzordima of Mush & Green, and Olatunji Oluwafemi of Efem Studios, among others.
The Mary Ojulari Foundation’s commitment to empowering young innovators was clear in Mrs. Mary Ojulari’s speech. She expressed that the initiative is a vital part of her mission to drive grassroots development through innovation, mentorship, and sustainable investments. She revealed that she had previously sponsored 25 children through their education, from primary school to university. “We mentor young people and women, provide them business advice, funding. Today, we are giving 21 entrepreneurs $5,000 as grants to pursue their ventures,” Ojulari shared.
The Ignite Bootcamp was an intensive 10-day programme designed to equip participants with essential skills for success in business. The training included sessions on entrepreneurial mindset, compliance, branding, sales, leadership, risk management, and pitch readiness, and featured mentorship from industry professionals, in collaboration with organisations such as SMEDAN.
Ojulari also expressed gratitude to the anonymous corporate sponsors and individuals whose donations made the initiative possible. She called on other stakeholders to join the effort in scaling its impact.
Dr. Cosmas Maduka, President & CEO of Coscharis Group, delivered the keynote address, offering valuable advice to the beneficiaries. He encouraged them to believe in their dreams and pursue them with unwavering determination. “There are many of you who were first in class but aren’t first in real life. Life requires a mindset shift and the courage to take action beyond mere words,” he advised. Maduka acknowledged the challenges faced in Nigeria but urged the youth to remain hopeful, highlighting the country’s wealth of untapped opportunities.