The growth trajectory of Lagos’ small and medium enterprises got a
major boost as OmoeKOH, a Lagos-based community of young builders,
distributed ₦200 million in grants, business support packages, and
tools to young entrepreneurs and innovators at its inaugural Wealth and
Impact Summit.
Held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts,
National Theatre, Iganmu, the summit recently attracted over 5,000
youths, traders, tech enthusiasts, and business owners.
It was convened by Imran Oladimeji Hamzat of OmoeKOH, a movement
launched just three weeks ago to recognize and empower young creatives,
founders, and employees who have been building from “their little
corners”.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat,
represented by Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, Commissioner for Wealth
Creation and Employment, commended the initiative. “This summit is
designed to provide a platform where ideas meet opportunity, mentorship,
and capital. It aligns with our administration’s determination to
create an enabling environment where enterprises can thrive,” the
Commissioner stated.
A high-level panel featuring Ayoolanrewaju Kuyebi, CEO/GMD GMH Luxury;
Evelyn Edumoh, GM Arkland Properties; Tolulope Abiodun, Head of
Business, Pesa Business; Prof. Ojuromi Oladele Teslim, Acting Dean, LASU
School of Agriculture; and Rotimi Williams, Principal, Asher Blackhorn,
tutored participants on business and management.
From over 3,000 registrations, 25 young business owners pitched, with 3
winners receiving cash grants: David Ogunbanjo, Blanet Africa –
₦5,000,000; Adeleke-Lawal, Ummiulkhayr Ummis Nature – ₦4,000,000;
Favour Adeleke, Qiqi Farms – ₦3,000,000, while others were given the
sum of ₦ 500,000 each.
Beyond cash, OmoeKOH distributed laptops to graphic designers and
developers, mobile phones for content creators, and offered free CAC and
SMEDAN registration for over 1,000 businesses. Partners, including
Jobberman, Providus Bank, and Lagos State Health Management Authority,
provided career, banking, and health insurance support on-site.
Speaking on the initiative, Alhaji Imran Oladimeji Hamzat, Convener of
OmoeKOH, said “The initiative is designed to create opportunities for
young Nigerians by supporting innovation, enterprise development, and
the adoption of technology. OmoeKOH is a brand that we have just started
less than a month ago. It is created to help the younger generation,”
he added.
According to him, “We are trying to empower the younger generation. We
understand that the younger generation is finding it difficult to find
people to hear them out, or notice them and the ideas they have been
silently building. We have tried to create a brand where we can
recognize the young generations, the new creatives, those who have been
working tirelessly, those who have been either employers or employees,
to empower them either financially or with items that can support their
business.”
The Deputy Director-General of OmoeKOH, Henry Babatunde Ige, said the
initiative is “designed to create opportunities by supporting
innovation and technology adoption,” describing the convener as a
“silent philanthropist with an eye on business emperors of the
future.”
To ensure accountability, OmoeKOH collated contacts of all beneficiaries
and will track grant usage. The summit comes as Lagos State on boarded
19 accelerators to disburse a ₦10 billion MSME fund through LSETF.
Hamzat said, “OmoeKOH is a youth-led platform empowering Lagos’ next
generation of founders, creatives, and traders through capital, tools,
and mentorship”.
