The Ike-Elechi Ogba Foundation has awarded ₦2.5 million in grants to young entrepreneurs at the SouthEast Business Growth Conference 2025, held in Abakaliki. The conference, which took place at Ryan Hotel, brought together over 300 entrepreneurs, government officials, and stakeholders under the theme “Ideas. Ambition. Opportunity.”
The Foundation was established by Professor Ike-Elechi Ogba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Ebonyi State University. In his keynote address, he said the Foundation “made a conscious decision to support our government and our people by integrating economic growth into our policy,” noting that the conference was created to identify and support promising youth in the region through a thorough selection process.
In her welcome address, the Foundation’s CEO, Mrs Chioma Ike-Elechi Ogba, called on attendees to “help us build the future of the Southeast,” encouraging collaboration between citizens, institutions, and government.
Ten entrepreneurs were selected to pitch their businesses before a panel of judges. Five emerged as winners, each receiving a ₦500,000 grant. The recipients are Jidechukwu Nwabueze of Jelapetra Farms Ltd, Gideon Fidelis Ekom of RentBetaHouse Nigeria Ltd, Blessing Nweke of Especial Naturals, Chinyeaka Elom of Mebembe Farms, and Ogechi Nwonye of Eco-cyclers. Their ideas were assessed by industry experts including Mr Hyacinth Orji, Mrs Ifeoma Ezechukwu, Mrs Nwanneka Eke, and Mr Okechukwu Victor Agozie.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Finance, Professor Leonard C. Uguru, commended the Foundation, saying, “This is the first organisation in the Southeast connecting cultural heritage and entrepreneurship. We need more of this. I fully support this and hope it becomes an annual event.”
The Commissioner for Solid Mineral Development, Hon. Chidi Onyia, added, “Today we see the future belongs to entrepreneurs. This is a shift we must embrace.” He also pledged ₦100,000 each to the five finalists who did not win.
Moved by the quality of the presentations, the judges awarded an extra ₦200,000 grant to Success Egba of Success Nation, increasing the total number of winners to six.
Professor Ogba concluded, “The real measure is what they will gain after. We’re already looking forward to next year.”
