On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the atmosphere at the Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan, Lagos Island, was electric as 21 young Nigerian entrepreneurs were awarded a combined $105,000 in business grants by the Mary Ojulari Foundation.
The grants were the highlight of the foundation’s inaugural Vanguard Fellowship Awards & Networking Cocktail Party, a celebration of talent, innovation, and resilience. The recipients, 18 women and 3 men, were selected from a pool of 500 applicants after undergoing a rigorous two-week Ignite Bootcamp.
Only 50 participants made it into the bootcamp, where they received hands-on training from mentors and industry experts in areas such as business development, branding, compliance, finance management, leadership, and sales strategy. Of the 50, 21 were chosen to receive $5,000 each to support and grow their businesses.
Among the entrepreneurs recognized were Jidechukwu Nwabueze (Jelapetra Farms Limited), Apelehin Oluwatoyin (Inspire Agro Centre), Olaleye Rofiat Olayinka (Eco Heroes), Hyacinth Orji (QuickWaka), Adetutu Olatunji (Two Event and Catering Services), Temitayo Oluyege (May Coutures), and many more representing a wide range of industries, from agriculture and tech to fashion and health.
Founder of the Mary Ojulari Foundation, Mrs. Mary Ojulari, shared the heart behind the initiative. “This investment underscores our mission to drive grassroots development by creating opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive,” she said.
“We mentor young people and women, provide them business advice, and funding. Today, we are giving 21 entrepreneurs $5,000 as a grant to pursue their venture.”
Ojulari, who has personally sponsored 25 children through their primary, secondary, and university education, explained how those experiences shaped her passion for youth empowerment. “Relating with young people across the country gave me firsthand knowledge of what they require to be successful,” she said.
She also acknowledged the role of key partners and supporters. “We could not have done this without the support of some individuals and partnership with organizations like SMEDAN,” she noted.
The grant funding, she revealed, was donated by several generous corporate organizations and individuals who believed in the foundation’s mission and chose to remain anonymous. “I thank them for supporting this vision and call on more people to come on board so we can reach more lives and make a bigger impact.”
According to Ojulari, the Ignite Bootcamp was more than just training—it was a transformational journey. “We brought in mentors and industry experts to train them on basic things such as how to run an organization. I am so proud of what we have achieved with the bootcamp,” she added.
In his keynote address, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, President and CEO of Coscharis Group, urged the entrepreneurs to hold tightly to their dreams and pursue them with action and focus.
Sharing his own journey from humble beginnings, Maduka encouraged the fellows to avoid distractions and stay committed.
“There are many of you who are first in class, but they are not first in real life,” he said. “You need to approach life with a different mental attitude. Nothing happens in you outside of your belief system. You need to learn to take action as against professing by mouth alone.”
He acknowledged the current challenges Nigeria faces but emphasized the country’s potential. “Nigeria remains the best place to unlock opportunities,” Maduka said. “Stay positive about the country, even in the face of difficulty.”
With this inaugural fellowship, the Mary Ojulari Foundation has not only provided financial support to 21 promising entrepreneurs but has also equipped them with the mindset, mentorship, and momentum to build sustainable ventures that create real value in their communities.
