The Phoenix Project awards five young entrepreneurs with five million naira in grants

Nigeria’s premiere creative learning platform, The Phoenix Project has awarded five young entrepreneurs with a total of five million naira in grants for their businesses. The winners were selected from a group of 12 finalists who pitched their ideas to a panel of judges at The Phoenix Project Pitch event which was held on Thursday 26thJanuary 2023 at the Access Bank Headquarters, Oniru, Lagos.

The Phoenix Project, which launched in April 2022, provides training and support for individuals seeking to launch a career in the Nigerian creative industry. The three-tiered program includes the beginner (virtual), intermediate and advanced levels (physical) in partnership with the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University, and a 3-month incubation program called the Phoenix Den at the Nest Innovation Tech Park.

Sitting on the panel of judges were Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya, Associate Partner, Sport, Entertainment and Technology (SET) / Regulatory and Compliance Practice - Olisa Agbakoba Legal; Chioma Ogwo, Head, Non-Financial Services, Emerging Businesses at Access Bank PLC; Jay Chukwuemeka, Partner / Creative Director at Imaginarium Marketing Communications; Peter Ogedengbe, Co-Founder, The Nest Innovation Tech Park; Olamide Olabisi, Managing Partner, Oand Global; and Colette Otusheso - CEO, Accelerate.

The Phoenix Project awards five young entrepreneurs with five million naira in grants Pulse Nigeria

The five winners of The Phoenix Project Fund are Lucia Ikediashi, Creative Director of Arty Culture; Adekunle Blue, Co-Founder and Head of Development at Story Story Studios; Esther Omotayo-Omomule, CEO of OGE-ARA Brand; Oyeyiola-Ourias Oyinkansola Adesewa, CEO of Kiolart Studio; and Olawale Williams, Creative Director of Itan Studios. In addition to the financial support, the winners will also receive business support from Access Bank’s emerging business department as well as mentorship and access to an alumnus of industry experts who will support their business journey.

Speaking on Phoenix Project's success so far, Colette Otusheso, CEO of Accelerate said, "We have recorded tremendous successes since we launched in April 2022. and today's event is a testament that Nigeria is full of innovative young minds. Our course facilitators, our partners at the Pan-Atlantic University, School of Media and Communication, the Nest Innovation Hub and our internship partners have helped us impact young minds with the requisite knowledge they need to stand out in the Nigerian creative ecosystem. The ideas of the five entrepreneurs who were awarded grants of a million naira each have proven to be viable, authentic, and scalable and that is why the judges deemed them fit for the grant.”

Speaking further, Colette was enthused about the plans for 2023.

“The Phoenix Project plans to train more learners and incubate more ideas in 2023, offer more internship opportunities and add eight new courses to the existing twelve being offered on The Phoenix Project Online Learning Educational Platform. These courses are accessible to all creative minds.”

Chioma Ogwo, Head, Non-Financial Services, Emerging Businesses at Access Bank PLC added that the Phoenix Project is an initiative that can grow the Nigerian creative industry. "It's inspiring to see that despite the trend of many young people leaving the country, there are still those who are dedicated to driving Nigeria's progress in the creative industry. At Access Bank, we are thrilled to be a part of this movement by supporting small and medium-sized businesses. We provide access to finance, training, as well as a network of like-minded entrepreneurs for support."

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ABOUT PHOENIX PROJECT

The Phoenix Project is an exciting learning platform aimed at expanding the creative potential of Nigeria’s youthful population. The initiative, powered by Access Bank, seeks to fill the existing gap in the creative industry and provide the resources needed for individuals to succeed.

The Phoenix Project aims to support the Nigerian government’s effort at addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria over the next five years by leveraging the abundance of creative resources available to empower youths in the creative industry.

The Phoenix Project covers 12 knowledge areas such as Social Media for Business, Entertainment Law, Advertising your brand, Graphic design, becoming an Influencer, Introduction to Film, Scriptwriting, Business of Vlogging, Introduction to Songwriting, Introduction to Film Production, Business of Entertainment and the Business of Fashion.

The knowledge areas are grouped into three bundles: Film and Production, Business of Entertainment, and Social Media for Business. They are built across the project's beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Participants at the beginner level of the courses will be taught online, while the intermediate and advanced levels are learner-exclusive and will be taught in-person, in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication at the Pan-Atlantic University, School of Media and Communication, Lagos.

The Phoenix Project has taken a deliberate approach to assemble an impactful line-up of facilitators from the creative industry to ensure a well-rounded learning experience for program participants. They include Kemi Lala Akindoju, Amaka Agbakoba, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Dapo Osaji, Adetoke Oluwo, Paul Okeugo, and Umeeta Rabiu among others.

Visit www.phoenixprojectng.com today to get started on your path to limelight in the creative industry.

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