From Judex Okoro, Calabar
The organisers of the Nigeria Student Venture Prize have disclosed that the winner of 2021 second University Startup competition will represent Nigeria at the University Start-up World Cup for the first time.
The Chief Executive Officer of Edugist, Nigeria Student Venture Prize Elvis Boniface, who made this disclosure in Calabar during a briefing to herald the commencement selection process for the contest, said the winner will also cart home the sum of N1.5m as star prize and also stand a chance of winning $15,000 at the World Cup to be hosted in Demark.
According to him, the grand winner (s) will win N1.5m in prize money that is designed to help them launch their high impact ventures into the world.
“Our winner this year will not be a local champion as s/he’ll proceed to represent Nigeria at the University Startup World Cup for the first time.
“At the University Startup World Cup, there will be over 100 international teams from universities across the world pitching for a chance to win $15,000. The application portal www.nsvprize.com will be opened for all students across the country to apply from the first of September and will run for 8 weeks.
“Subsequently, 20 candidates will be shortlisted and camped at a one week boot camp which will climax in a grand finale on December 4 where candidates will pitch their big idea,” he stated.
He commended some partners including the APP, who are the platinum sponsors, VBank and University of Sussex, who are good sponsors, AfriInvest and Windsworth Hostels for their support to this year’s Nigeria Student Venture Prize.
Also speaking, the head Deal Organisation and Investments Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited, Dipo Lawore, said they are happy to associate with the contest, adding that APP believes in the Nigerian Youths hence their desire to partner with Edugist to support entrepreneurship.
On her part, Funmi Shepherd, the COO of Windsworth Hostels and host for the bootcamp welcomed the entrepreneurship contest for Nigerian students.