StarNews Mobile and the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) have partnered to launch a Business Competition in Lagos, Nigeria, aimed at empowering promising Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria with investment and partnership opportunities from the United States. In collaboration with MTN and the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID), the competition will provide a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase their ventures and gain national visibility over a 10-week period from April 8 to June 14, 2024.
StarNews Mobile, established in 2017, supports African content creators by enabling them to monetize their work through a subscription model. It boasts over 4 million subscribers and a community of more than 120 content creators. Operating in six countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte D’Ivoire, Congo, Benin, and Ghana, StarNews Mobile has forged partnerships with major telecom operators like MTN and Orange.
Benefits of the Business Competition include
- Mentorship
- Financial support
- Collaboration opportunities
- Access to socio-economic development resources through the Global Black Economic Forum
- Opportunity to win cash prizes valued at up to NGN5,000,000 from StarNews
- Networking opportunities with StarNews investors, and exposure on the StarNews web platform
- Coaching from GBEF’s Academy for Advancing Excellence for the top three winners, along with inclusion in GBEF’s network of global leaders committed to social and economic justice within the Black Diaspora.
Requirements:
- The business must be at least 50% owned and operated by Nigerians.
- The business must be registered in Nigeria with a valid Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration.
- Business activities should primarily occur in Africa.
- A web or social media presence with a minimum of 1,000 followers is required.
- The business must have been operating formally for a minimum of 2 years and have had consecutive turnover for at least 2 years.
- The business should contribute directly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
Application Procedure:
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024.
