The Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, an NGO, has introduced over N2.5 million in prize awards to excellent younger social innovators and enterprises for his or her contributions to sustainable growth.
The group said this on Tuesday in an announcement by its Executive Director, Mrs Kehinde Ayeni.
Ayeni mentioned the awards have been introduced on the thirteenth version of the organisation’s Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA), held on Oct. 28 in Lagos.
“The awards recognised young entrepreneurs whose innovative initiatives are addressing critical social and economic challenges across communities.
“Young entrepreneurs were creating businesses capable of addressing market and development challenges.
“Access to finance, markets and supportive policies remained critical to the growth and sustainability of youth-led enterprises,” she mentioned.
Ayeni urged buyers, policymakers and enterprise leaders to help younger entrepreneurs as enterprise drivers able to contributing considerably to Africa’s financial progress.
She mentioned the continent wanted to maneuver past viewing younger individuals as beneficiaries of growth interventions to recognising their capability to create financial worth.
Rosy Fynn, Country Director, Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, was quoted as saying that Africa’s prosperity would rely not solely on its rising youth inhabitants but in addition on the alternatives obtainable for younger individuals to contribute meaningfully.
Fynn known as for financing fashions that mirrored the realities of entrepreneurs and stronger collaboration amongst stakeholders to create an enabling atmosphere for companies to thrive.
Also talking, Clare Omatseye, Founder and Managing Director of JNC International and LEAP Africa Board Chair, was additionally quoted as saying that supporting social enterprises required greater than seed funding.
She pressured the necessity for stronger establishments, sustainable financing fashions and insurance policies that may allow younger companies to compete and increase.
Omatseye mentioned creating an atmosphere the place younger individuals might generate employment and construct sustainable companies was important to Africa’s financial future.
Among the awardees was Gbenro Tolulope Theresa of Corp Climate Literacy Programme, who obtained the Seyi Bickersteth Award for Financial Accountability.
Ibrahim Isah Liman of AgroChill Solutions emerged winner of the Social Enterprise of the Year Award, whereas Bestman Lilian Amaka of Talent Spotlight Africa Foundation obtained the Innocent Chukwuma Award for Social Innovation in South-East Nigeria.
The awards additionally featured the Outstanding Innovator of the Year class, alongside reside enterprise pitches by social entrepreneurs competing for the Most Outstanding Social Innovator of the Year award.
The 2026 SIPA, themed “Africa as the Sector: Maximising Youth Agency for a Prosperous Africa – Leveraging Technology, Finance and Policy,” introduced collectively over 200 younger social entrepreneurs, buyers, policymakers and enterprise leaders.
The occasion additionally featured enterprise pitches, investor engagement classes and discussions on overcoming structural limitations limiting the expansion of modern companies throughout Africa. (NAN)
Edited by Emmanuel Afonne
