Application for IBPLC Kickstart Business Plan Competition closes November 6

International Breweries PLC Foundation (IBPL) is calling on entrepreneurs to apply for its third season of IBPLC Kickstart Business Plan Competition.

The KickStart programme  is run as a competition for budding entrepreneurs and innovators aged between 18 and 35 providing them with business-skills training, development support, mentorship and chance to come away with grant fund, as stated by the IBPL, adding that the ultimate goal of the programme is to help build a young prosperous society by helping to create a culture of entrepreneurship among the youths, thereby reducing youth unemployment for indigenes in the South West Nigeria.

The competition was launched to help “contribute to poverty reduction and instil a culture of entrepreneurship by giving ambitious young entrepreneurs encouragement and practical help to get the business of their dreams off the ground and onto greater heights,” organisers said in a written statement obtained by Entrepreneurship+.

Since the scheme began in 2015, it has supported more than 49 people who are indigenes and reside in the South Western region of Nigeria, it has also provided in-depth training and business insights to over 300 applicants giving them the support they need to start their businesses or to take their existing businesses to the next level.

Some of these entrepreneurs who had received support from the brewing company include: Olumide Ogunbanjo, who has a full production line of the finest honey being supplied to some of the largest mall chains; Awosan Adesoji Akinola, who has poultry business focuses on bi products that offer superior results for end users; Falana Opeyemi, who grew her fashion line and started making ready to wear garments for corporate clientele and Ruth Adeleke, a farmer that focuses on the development of improved crop growth resulting in higher yield and production; as well as Faleye Olanrewaju Samuel, who provides employment to four other entrepreneurs through his food processing business which he established to empower himself and others.

According to the organisation, the last season saw the emergence of 24 lucky finalists who got grants to kickStart their businesses from the tune of N500,000 to N1,800,000; which cut across some sectors such as  agriculture, food production, fashion and design, arts and entertainment, and education, among others.

The third season will, according to the organisation, be “bigger than any of the previous seasons of the program. With registration processes upgraded and a much elaborate feedback medium put in place applicants for this season will have a much memorable and engaging experience,” and therefore is calling on local indigenous entrepreneurs solving social problems facing the South Western region to apply for the programme.

Online applications will close on November 6, 2017 and they can be filled and completed by visiting the International Breweries PLC Foundation KickStart Website (http://ibpkickstart.com) or by downloading, filling and submitted at any of the designated drop centres in Lagos, Ilesha and Ibadan.

The organisers said competition is open ONLY to South Westerners of 18 to 35 years who live and have their business within the South Western region with valid identification (e.g National I.D; Drivers Licence; International Passport; Voters Registration, etc) as at the last day of the application period.

He or she must be willing to operate the business on a fulltime basis. Have an innovative business idea in need of a start-up capital, or already have an existing small businesses needing capital to expand operations. Must be energetic and entrepreneurial in approach and must be able to read and write.