By Dr. Scholastica Ngunengen Banka; FIMC, CMC, NMIM
Centre Secretary
[email protected]
The Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, presented a start-up grant worth Six Hundred (#600,000.00) Naira to twelve startup innovators who benefited from the schemeon Thursday 18th May 2023 at the Senate Chambers. The Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) had selected twelve (12) startup innovators to benefit from the Startup Grant Scheme. The selection was done through two competitive processes and the innovators are receiving both technical and financial support within the next three months to upscale their products.
The selected startups are to undergo a three (3) month incubation (booth camp) during which they will interact with experts in different fields for technical support and undergo some training on market research, product development, testing and validation, business model canvas, business competency, financial modeling, legalities, team and leadership development as well as innovator business branding.
Those who were awarded grants for the startup were; Muinat Muyideen of NAFARM Ltd., Fidelia Agera of FIDNEN Ltd.; Bernard Ngutor Agye of BEN-GUT Resources; Akwonya Unoogwu of Farm Trade, Sharon Otowo of Mixed Culture and Benedicta Kave of House of Rity.
Other awardees were; Msughter George Azor of Msen Tech., Solomon Terhide Kpamo of Newways Agro, Bridget Shidoon Idyu of BIDVANS Foods, Veronica Sefa of Sefawase Enterprises as well as ECOTUTU
The Director of the Centre, Dr. Barnabas Achakpa Ikyo, while introducing the awardees, informed the Vice-Chancellor that the first ten (10) beneficiaries were selected through the “Agro Hack Challenge”. This program was done in partnership with the UNDP (Through the Benue Agribusiness Innovation Hub – BAI Hub) and the First City Monument Bank (FCMB). The Challenge pulled over one thousand applications from all over Nigeria with solutions that were centered on controlling food loss, food processing, fabrication of equipment and promotion globally recognized agricultural processes.
The other two (2) Startup innovators were a result of a strict competition judged by a Startup Committee that was made up of experts in Entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Director added that since the university was in the celebration mood, the activity was also done as part of the celebration of Benue State University @30.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Naanson commended the University for the kind gesture, especially that the process was devoid of any form of negative influence. According to him, it was a keenly contested and fairly judged procedure. On a final note, he thanked the University Management, the partners and all the facilitators for a job well done.
Hallmark of the occasion was the presentation of the award via a dummy cheque to each member. The Vice-Chancellor with the assistance of the BAI-Hub representative, Dr. Shedrach Akpem as well as the Centre Leader did the presentation.Funding would be released after the signing of an MoU between the Centre and each of the awardees.
The Vice-Chancellor in his remarks commended the awardees for their hard work and expressed hope that each of them would put to good use the grant they were receiving to start their businesses. He added that this was part of the BSU vision which is to impact the community and more importantly take the classroom experience out to the public domain. For emphasis while addressing the awardees he called each by their names.
Others present during the occasion were the University Librarian; Prof. Innocent Ekoja represented by one of his office assistants, Deans and Directors and some Professors within and outside BSU. The Director, BSU Consultancy services and Director Entrepreneurship Studies commended the awardees and advised them on the usage of the grant and challenged them to ensure they succeed. Also present were the Deputy Centre Leader, Prof. Ogbene Igbum, the Deputy Director Research and Collaboration, Dr. Sylvester Adejo and the Centre Secretary, Dr. Scholastica Banka.
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