Total to raise more local entrepreneurs with Startupper II
FOLLOWING the success of the first edition, launched in 2015 in over 30 African countries, Total is once again holding the Startupper of the Year Challenge in 2018, this time on a global scale in almost 60 countries and on every continent.
In the first edition, the project was launched in 34 African countries, and was a call for young people to present their projects for the creation or development of a company, in any business sector. Each winner (three per country) received a cash prize, visibility and help in making their project a reality.
The 2018-2019 Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge will support and reward young local entrepreneurs in any business sector with a project or business less than two years old. In each participating African country, a local jury comprised of experts from Total, specialists from incubators and accelerators, business leaders and local community stakeholders will select three winners. The projects will be assessed based on their: Innovative nature, Social and community impact, feasibility and development potential. Each winner will be awarded the “Startupper of the Year by Total” label and receive financial support of at least N2.6 million plus professional coaching and extensive publicity to advertise their project.
The initiative is part of Total’s strategy to promote youth entrepreneurship and development in Africa. The Startupper of the Year Challenge by Total is intended to empower young Nigerians aged 35 years and below who aspire to start their own businesses and to build a brighter future. A competitive process, Startupper of the Year by Total identifies, rewards and provides support to the best business creation and business development ideas. The winning ideas will be granted the Startupper of the Year label, as well as financial assistance and mentorship from experienced business leaders.
In a bid to supporting women entrepreneurs, General Manager, Human Resources & Corporate Services/company Secretary of Total, Bunmi PopoolaMordi, said the jury will also designate a top female entrepreneur in each country. This special award, which is in addition to the other awards, is Total’s way of en- couraging more women to take part in the Challenge. A grand jury will meet subsequently to select three grand winners for the entire continent, from among the first-prize winners in each country.
The Executive General Manager, CSR & Medical Services, Total, Vincent Nnadi, said Startupper of the Year also reaffirms Total’s commitment to capacity building in the countries where it operates, worldwide, adding that: “By helping innovative young entrepreneurs to realise their projects, the Challenge strengthens the local social fabric.”
ANOTHER108 Nigerians have been awarded full secondary education scholarship under the NNPC/SNEPCO National Cradle-to-career (NC2C) Scholarship scheme launched in 2014, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the last four years to 375.
The scholarship, administered by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), offers full boarding and tuition-free support to the beneficiaries throughout their education in top-rated private secondary schools across Nigeria. “This is part of our wider social investment programmes to support Nigerian youths, particularly the less-privileged, to attain the height of their potential notwithstanding their socio-economic background,” said the Managing Director of SNEPCO, Bayo Ojulari, at the award ceremony held recently at Grundtvig International Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State
.Ojulari, represented by the company’s Bonga Asset Operations Manager, Elohor Aiboni, said SNEPCO, with the support of the NNPC and its co-venture partners was committed to providing opportunities for Nigerian youths not just in education but also in entrepreneurial training and empowerment as demonstrated by SNEPCO’S other social investment programmes across the country.