Hundreds of young Nigerians stormed The Gathering on 100 in Enugu recently for a day of networking, fun, entertainment and business opportunities.
Previously held in Lagos and Aba, the event landed in Enugu, a city reputed as one of Nigeria’s emerging innovation and startup hubs.
A major highlight of the Enugu edition was the Pitch-a-thon competition, where three entrepreneurs received a combined ₦5 million in grants to support their business growth.
More than 100 entrepreneurs applied for the competition, with 10 finalists selected to pitch before a panel of judges. At the end, Velas Global Nutrition Limited emerged as the overall winner, securing ₦2.5 million.
Werxio, founded by Donatus Prince, received ₦1.5 million while Whipcare Company was awarded ₦1 million.
These grants go a long way to address a persistent funding challenge. According to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the country is home to over 39 million MSMEs, contributing nearly half of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and accounting for about 84 per cent of employment nationwide. Despite this, access to finance remains a significant obstacle to business growth.
For Chizoba Osuji, founder of Velas Global Nutrition Limited, the funding facilitates the expansion of a business built on years of research. Her company processes indigenous crops into shelf-stable blends, supporting nutrition and local women smallholder farmers.
“This is motivation to keep making Nigerians healthier through better food,” she remarked, noting the grant will fund semi-automated equipment to increase production capacity to 20 tonnes monthly.
Osuji added that the ₦2.5 million grants would be used to acquire semi-automated equipment capable of increasing production capacity to about 20 tonnes monthly. Beyond increasing output, the expansion is expected to create additional opportunities for women smallholder farmers across the Southeast who supply many of the raw materials used by the company.
Speaking on the initiative, MTN’s Regional General Manager (Sales), Callima Inino, represented by Peter Kajovo, said The Gathering on 100 was designed to provide young Nigerians with platforms to connect, learn, showcase their talents and access opportunities that can help them grow.
“We want to encourage youths to live their best lives and have fuller expressions of themselves,” he said.
As the Enugu edition concludes, the energy of the Southeast’s startup scene remains evident. Meanwhile, The Gathering on 100 continues its nationwide tour, connecting more young founders with the visibility and support they need.