Firms collaborate to reward entrepreneurs

In a bid to recognise and reward young business owners contributing to the economic growth of Lagos State, Acme Multimedia Integration, LAPO Microfinance Bank Plc, and Grand Oak have collaborated to organise the fifth edition of the Lagos Young Entrepreneurs Award.

The Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of the LAYE2024 Award, Saheed Okeowo, announced this during a press conference held in Lagos recently.

He highlighted the significance of the award in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of Lagos youth and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.

“We are here today to announce the fifth edition of the Lagos Young Entrepreneurs Award. The award, which started five years ago, aims to inspire the younger generation of entrepreneurs, reward hard work, and promote entrepreneurship,” he said.

According to Okeowo, Lagos State’s status as the fifth-largest economy in Africa is largely driven by the efforts of its entrepreneurs, who deserve recognition and celebration.

He noted that over the years, the LAYE Awards have nurtured, developed, and promoted young talents in entrepreneurship, with more than 100 individuals empowered across the state.

Scheduled to be held in October, Okeowo outlined the criteria for entrepreneurs to qualify for the award.

“For a candidate to qualify for any of our award categories, they must have been living in Lagos State and running their business here for the past five years, be about 45 years of age, be the CEO of a registered business entity, and must have been nominated and voted for,” he added.

The spokesperson for LAYE2024, Ademola Adesokan, revealed that there had been requests to extend the programme to other states and expand the age bracket, noting that the current template remained focused on Lagos.

“We have received numerous calls from people in other states asking us to enlarge the scope so they can participate. We are also being asked to expand the age bracket, but we remain focused on our template and goals,” Adesokan stated.