Ten women entrepreneurs were recently honored and awarded a total of $100,000 as part of the RevUp Women Initiative during its highly anticipated Business Showcase event themed ‘Investing in Women, Inspiring Futures.’
Organized by AfriLabs and Visa Foundation, the event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through the empowerment of women entrepreneurs.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs, setting the tone for the day’s proceedings. Attendees were treated to a visual journey through the accomplishments of RevUp Women’s First Cohort, showcased in captivating highlights.
In her keynote address, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, co-founder at WIMBIZ, passionately spoke about the importance of investing in women and the transformative impact it can have on communities and economies.
The event also featured a thought-provoking Panel Discussion moderated by Nanko Madu, focusing on ‘Fostering Inclusive Growth Through Women’s Economic Participation.’ Esteemed panelists including Lilian Olubi, Judge at The Next Titan Nigeria; Hajara Pitan, Wealth Coach & Business Strategist at Audacity to Soar; Sherifah Balogun, Director of Strategy, Funding, and Stakeholder Management at LSETF; and Annabel Angwenyi, Founder at Ziada, shared insights on enhancing women’s economic empowerment across the continent.
Following the discussion, a lively Question-and-answer session allowed attendees to interact directly with the panelists and delve deeper into key issues surrounding women’s economic participation.
The pinnacle of the event was the Award Ceremony, where the top ten finalists of a comprehensive selection process were announced as winners, each receiving a grant of $10,000. The awardees included:
- Baby Grubz (Lagos, Nigeria)
- Queen Amina Medical Integration (Abuja, Nigeria)
- Ecokud Limited (Kisumu, Kenya)
- Ziada, Kele Makgale (Pty) Ltd (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Ndiqala (PTY) Ltd (Johannesburg, South Africa)
- WaziEats (Douala, Cameroon)
- V’s VitaLife (Yaounde, Cameroon)
- Mali Food (Lubumbashi, DRC)
- P.aktion (Kinshasa, DRC)
The awards celebrated the resilience, innovation, and dedication of these trailblazing entrepreneurs, highlighting their significant contributions to the economic landscape.
“Investing in women isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic decision with far-reaching economic benefits,” emphasized Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs.
“Supporting the growth of women-owned businesses is crucial for fostering an economy that works for everyone, everywhere,” added Najada Kumbuli, Head of Investments, Visa Foundation.
The RevUp Women Initiative Business Showcase not only celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs but also served as a catalyst for driving meaningful change and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future.
