Winners of the Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services
Entrepreneurship Initiative, “Passion to Empire Campaign” at the prize presentation ceremony at
Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, smiles
home with N3.5million each, including skills and acquisition training
sessions at the Enterprise Development Center (EDC) in Pan African University, ITRealms reports.
ITRealms
gathered that the 5 winners, Daniel Isa, Emmanuel Ugwueke, Emmanuel Okena,
Godwin Benson and Jessica Yahaya, all made it through the top 15 contestants,
whose business ideas the judges could not push aside.
The
judges, ITRealms gathered, made up of top Nigerian
beauty entrepreneur, Tara Fela-Durotoye, CEO Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori
and Co-founder, Jobberman, Opeyemi Awoyemi, had an uphill task short listing
for the Top 30.
Mrs.
Tara spoke to ITRealms on behalf
of the Judges, “Lots of the ideas came from technology, but we also saw ideas
from the Agriculture sector and services industry. Initially, the idea was to
select the Top 15 to pitch their ideas; however, there were some good ones we
could not push aside. The truth is that, Nigeria has a bright future with the
kind of minds that we interacted with during the campaign.” She said.
ITRealms also
gathered that General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services, Mr. Joseph
Umunakwe, expressed satisfaction at the successful completion of the event, noting
that the campaign is a demonstration of Microsoft’s commitment to helping
Entrepreneurs translate their business ideas into reality.
“At
the core of Microsoft is productivity. We are continually investing in building
devices that enhance productivity to better lives. We are passionate about
helping Entrepreneurs build capacity that sets them apart from their peers.
Though, these five contestants won the prize money with the crop of young
creative minds that entered for the competition and the wonderful ideas shared
so far, the future is bright and I must say they are all winners in their own
right.” He said.
He
further stressed that, aside the prize money presented and the training program
at the EDC of the Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Microsoft under the
‘Cloudprenuer’ project would be offering Top 1000 technology business the
opportunity of taking advantage of its cloud service at no cost.
Some
of the winners who expressed their joy to ITRealms said that the cash prize would go a
long way in helping them actualize their life time goals.
ITRealms learnt
that seven of the 1st runners-up were also rewarded with
training sessions at the Centre.
Daniel
Nsolibe/GEE
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