Ecobank rallies Vitamalt,
IMPC on Entrepreneur TV show
By TOSIN AJIRIRE
Saturday, May
3, 2008
More than 60 lucky Nigerians with small businesses or business
ideas would soon have the opportunity to fully own their businesses
through free financing.
This is being made possible by Africa’s leading financial
brand, Ecobank Nigeria Plc and world's favourite malt drink,
Vita malt, which have thrown their weight behind “The
Entrepreneur”, a business TV reality programme hitting
the screen across the continent any moment from now.
The Entrepreneur TV reality show is designed as a platform
to invest in innovative social enterprises that will help
achieve a positive social impact, alleviating poverty and
empowering small businesses.
Already, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency
of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has endorsed “The Entrepreneur”
as key partners. The series, which is the first of its kind
in Nigeria, is offering a lifetime opportunity to participants
with novel ideas who desire to start or grow their businesses
the chance to access up to one million naira (N1m) by presenting
their ideas before a board.
The Panel comprises The Chairman, The Advisor, The Banker
and the Business Angel, who will scrutinize aspiring entrepreneur’s
ideas for content and relevance. The candidate, who will be
selected through a competitive presentation, is expected to
impress the panel of four with their creativity and vision
to access the needed cash.
According to Goke Dokun, Executive Director of Inspire Media
Production Company (IMPC), producer of the programme, The
Entrepreneur is unique in several ways.
He said: “First, it gives Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs
the freedom to own their ideas, by allowing them access the
required cash without interference on how they run it. Secondly,
it recognises the need to further empower the Nigerian entrepreneur
whom the world has acknowledged as being innovative but lacking
opportunity to change his world.”
Dokun explained further thus: “Though, one million naira
seems quite little, it will offer most Nigerians a head start
in implementing their long envisioned business ideas, enabling
them to become wealth creators and employers of labour. However,
in The Entrepreneur TV series, the winner wins both his idea
and the money. Instead of paying back money to the bank, Ecobank
will further render free business advisory services through
its SME desk.”
Interested participants are expected to register online or
download hardcopy forms, which they are to submit in any branch
of Ecobank nationwide after duly filing them. There will be
zonal auditioning for registered participants in Lagos, Zaria,
and Aba to select the 60 qualified people with business ideas
that will come before The Panel. The Growing Businesses Foundation
(GBF) will manage this process.
IMPC, the outfit behind the TV programme makes exciting and
innovative content across a variety of platforms for a broad
range of end users, produces major entertainment events for
broadcasters, high profile productions and affordable series
for non-terrestrial broadcasters.
Ecobank Nigeria, which in the last few years, has been in
the forefront of creative talent contests among African youth
was the Associate Sponsor of the maiden Idols West Africa
and co-sponsor of the Big Brother Africa that rocked the continent
last year.
|
