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About UEC

THE ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE

The Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge is our job creation and impact investment program designed to empower young people in Africa turn their ideas, skills and passions into scalable business ventures.

We adopted an idea pitching competition model, which challenges the creativity and the audacity of the young people to survive as entrepreneurs.

All applicants pass through a compulsory Boot Camp and Pitching Competitions and those with best business ideas receive both financial and technical supports from us.

The Impacts So far…

Between 2018 and 2020, we have supported the birth of over 5,000 SMEs and startups in Nigeria during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge. This year, which is the 4th edition, we hope to empower additional 2,000 young and women entrepreneurs across the country.

First Edition

Click below to watch the first edition of the Enterprise Challenge held in Owerri, Imo State on May 24, 2019.

Second Edition

Click below to watch the second edition of the Enterprise Challenge held in Abuja, FCT on August 30, 2019.

Third Edition

Click below to watch the third edition of the Enterprise Challenge held in Abuja, FCT on December 07, 2020.

Fourth Edition

Click below to watch the fourth edition of the Enterprise Challenge held in Abuja, FCT on December 06, 2021.

13th December, 2022

UEC 2022 Finals

@Nicon Luxury Hotels, Abuja

#UEC2022 Activity Timelines

Call for Applications

Aug 08 - Sept 30

Online Boot Camp

Oct 03 - Oct 27

1st Preliminary Pitching

Oct 28 - Nov 10

2nd Preliminary Pitching

Nov 18 - Nov 25

Grand Finale

Dec 13, 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please, before you start your application, kindly go through this important Questions and Answers Section

Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible to apply for this Challenge if you are a Nigerian (living in Nigeria), either male or female between 18 and 40 years of age and have an idea that can be turned into a business or social enterprise.

Non-Discriminatory Policies

As a non-political, non-religious and non-profit making development organization, the Challenge is open to every eligible citizen of Nigeria, despite their ethnic, religious, social statues as well as political affiliations.

Which sectors of the economy are being supported?

We do not have preference for any sector of the economy, since all the sectors are important in the growth and development of the country.

Whether you are operating in agriculture, food technology, renewal energy, information technology, health technology, telecommunications, etc, you are free to apply for the competition.

What stages of businesses are you looking for?

We are interested in early startups and those whose businesses are still at the ideation stage.

The reason is because, we want to serve as angel investors to such persons whose ideas would have died with them if they do not participate in an impact investment program like the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge

We stay outside Abuja, can we still apply?

Yes, you can apply. All the activities shall be implemented virtually, except the Grand finale, which shall hold in Abuja.

For the grand finale in Abuja, only the top 10 finalists who were selected after the preliminary pitching competitions shall be invited to Abuja.

The Activity Timelines...

The Activity Schedule is as follows:

a) Call for Applications: Aug. 08 – Sept. 30, 2022

b) Online Boot Camp: Oct. 03 – Oct. 27, 2022

c) 1st Preliminary Pitching: Oct. 28 – Nov. 10, 2022

d) Online Voting (YouTube): Nov. 11 – Nov. 17, 2022

e) Announce Top 50 participants: Nov. 18, 2022

f) 2nd Preliminary Pitching: Nov. 18, 2022 – Nov. 25, 2022

g) 2nd Online Voting: Nov. 26 – Dec. 01 2022

h) Announce Top 10 finalists: Dec. 02, 2022.

i) Grand finale (Abuja): December 13, 2022

NB: Other details shall be communicated to all the participants as the need arises.

Fair Play Policy

As usual, the Board and Management of the Ugwumba Leadership Center shall not interfere in the decisions of our unbiased panel of judges.

From the start of the Online Boot Camp to the Preliminary Pitching, Online Voting and Final Pitching Competitions, all assessments of your performances shall be done by our Facilitators and Panel of Judges.

Why the Online Pitching and Online Voting?

We introduced the Online Preliminary Pitching and Online Voting from the general public to enable us compare the assessments of your ideas from our online audience with those of our Facilitators and Panel of Judges.

This is in line with the fair play and transparency we are promoting at the Center.

NB: There is no payment for the voting.

All the pitch decks received from the participants shall be uploaded on our YouTube channel at www.bit.ly/ugwumbachannel to enable the general public make comments about your ideas.

Where do we begin our applications?

If you have gone through the FAQs above and you are qualified, please, click HERE to apply

#UEC2022 Star Prizes

1st Prize

N1million

2nd Prize

N700k

3rd Prize

N500k

4th Prize

N300k

5th Prize

N200k

Through the ugwumba enterprise challenge, we promote...

Innovation and Job Creation

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For regular updates about the 2022 Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge, please, connect with us on our social media handles below…