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This is Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge...

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UGWUMBA STARTUP PROGRAM 2-2
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Remy Chukwunyere, Executive Director presenting the Event Overview at the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge - Abuja Edition
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#UEC

UGWUMBA ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE

The Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge is our idea pitching and grant competition designed to empower young people in Africa turn their ideas, skills and passions into scalable business ventures or social enterprises.

We adopted this pitching competition model because it challenges the creativity and the audacity of our 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 2022, we have supported the birth of over 5,000 SMEs and startups in Nigeria during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th editions of the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge. This year, which is the 6th edition, we hope to empower additional 2,000 young and women entrepreneurs across the country.

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First Edition

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

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Second Edition

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

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Third Edition

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

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Fourth Edition

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

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12th December, 2023

UEC 2023 Finals

@Abuja Continental Hotels (former Sheraton)

click to APPLY NOW!


#UEC2023 Activity Timelines

Call for Applications



Aug 14 - Sept 09
Online Boot Camp



Oct 02 - Oct 28
1st Pitching



Oct 29 - Nov 09
2nd Pitching



Nov 18 - Nov 24
Grand Finale



Dec 12, 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 5 finalists who were selected after the preliminary pitching competitions shall be invited to Abuja.

The Activity Schedule is as follows:

a) Call for Applications: Aug. 14 – Sept. 09, 2023

b) GD Champions Training: Sept. 11 – Sept 30, 2023

c) Online Boot Camp: Oct. 02 – Oct. 20, 2023

d) 1st Preliminary Pitching: Oct. 29 – Nov. 09, 2023

e) Online Voting (YouTube): Nov. 10 – Nov. 16, 2023

f) Announce Top 20 participants: Nov. 17, 2023

g) 2nd Preliminary Pitching: Nov. 18, 2022 – Nov. 24, 2023

h) 2nd Online Voting: Nov. 25 – Dec. 04, 2023

i) Announce Top 5 finalists: Dec. 05, 2023.

j) Grand finale (Abuja): December 12, 2023

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

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. 

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.

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

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

#UEC2023 Star Prizes

1st Prize



N1.5 million
2nd Prize



N1 million
3rd Prize



N700k
4th Prize



N500k
5th Prize



N300k

Through the ugwumba enterprise challenge, we promote...

Innovation and Job Creation

Click to watch the top UEC 2022 finalists Now!
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For regular updates about the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge, please, connect with us on our social media handles below…

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