OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUP

TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION GRANT APPLICATION

Apply Now for Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship programme for African Entrepreneurs($5,000 Grant available)

The 2020 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme application portal is open, and closes midnight, March 1st, 2020.

Judges will select startups or business idea that have feasibility, scalability, and potential for growth of the product/service, among others.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs.

Apply Here https://application.tefconnect.com/  

Eisenhower Fellowships’ Women's Leadership Program 2020

Are you a woman, aged 32-45? Apply for Eisenhower Fellowships’ Women's Leadership Program 2020.

Open to women from around the world to participate in its unique six-week program.

 Application Deadline: Feb 24, 2020

https://t.co/t9LE1XgiYL

Other Opportunities

GIZ Digital Innovation Factory opens application to start-ups, companies, non-profits from Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico and Senegal to submit innovations for sustainable development on Gender Equality, EduTech or Environmental Climate Action.
Submit application and stand the chance of being part of 12 winning teams who get the chance of recieving packages equivalent 15.000€.
www.innovation-factory.app
Deadline for application: 3rd February, 2020

MTN’s Global Graduate Development Programme seeks to source, develop, and accelerate top graduates from across Africa and the Middle East. The programme offers a privileged experience that fast-tracks talented individuals into critical roles at MTN.
https://www.mtn.com/careers/graduate-programme/
Application deadline: 31st January, 2020

The Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP) provides non-Harvard undergraduate students with a focused and challenging summer research experience in a cutting-edge stem cell science laboratory with $5,000 funding
https://hsci.harvard.edu/research/hsci-internship-program-hip
Application deadline: February 3, 2020.

Apply for a world-class master's in mathematical sciences with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) if you hold a 4-year degree in mathematics, or any science discipline with a significant maths component. Deadline for application : 31 March 2020. Visit the website for details - https://www.nexteinstein.org/

Rice Business Plan Competition 2020 for Student Startups (Up to $1.5 Million in prizes)

Details: http://bit.ly/2SAzG2i

One Young World Lead2030 Challenge ($500k in funding plus mentorship)

Details: http://bit.ly/33LPG4x

Google for Startups Sustainable Development Goals Accelerator 2020

Details: http://bit.ly/2Q8ioqF

Dalai Lama Fellows Program for Emerging Leaders 2020

Details: http://bit.ly/32zvtgR

Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program 2020 (Fully-funded to London and $100,000 seed funding)

Details: http://bit.ly/37C9k4z

SDGs & Her Competition 2020 (Fully-funded to Washington DC for World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings)

Details: http://bit.ly/34gBzUo

British Council #IdeasChangeLives Global Innovation Challenge 2019 for Digital solutions (£20,000 prize)

Details: http://bit.ly/2Biohdz

Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Young Leaders Program 2020

Details: http://bit.ly/34X9vWp

UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest

Details: http://bit.ly/2ncxws7

Commonwealth Foundation Grant Programme for Civil Society Organisations (up to £200,000)

Details: http://bit.ly/2qShIMQ

Hertog Foundation Weekend Seminars 2020 for Students and Young professionals (Fully-funded)

Details: http://bit.ly/33YP8rQ

Global Health Corps Fellowship 2020 for Young Health Leaders (Funded)

Details: http://bit.ly/2P82gow

McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism 2020 ($USD $15,000 grant)

Details: http://bit.ly/368YL8U

IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program 2020 for Young Researchers (Fully-funded)

Details: http://bit.ly/2ntSbIQ

United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Women Building Peace Award 2020 ($10,000 prize)

Details: http://bit.ly/2tqBC2T

Transparency and Accountability Initiative (TAI) Photo Competition 2020 (grant of US$8,000)

Details: http://bit.ly/2MZWKo7

Hansen Leadership Institute 2020 International Program for Young Scholars (Fully-funded to the US)

Details: http://bit.ly/35qiHDz

Deutsche Welle Journalism Traineeship Programme 2020-2022 (Paid position)

Details: http://bit.ly/2YPWjRq

Scholarships to attend 23rd International AIDS Conference 2020 in San Francisco and Oakland, United States

Details: http://bit.ly/2Q2LeJ5

Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2020 for Students and Recent graduates ($350,000 in Prizes)

Details: http://bit.ly/2Q2LeJ5

World Press Photo Digital Storytelling Contest 2020 (Win a trip to Amsterdam)

Details: http://bit.ly/2Li3Lz8

SET Award 2020 for Innovators in the Energy Transition (Up to 10,000 Euros prize)

Details: http://bit.ly/2oPpp5O

U.S. Department of State’s TechWomen Program for Emerging Leaders 2020

Details: http://bit.ly/2QL3jgH

International Finance Corporation (IFC) Summer Internship Program 2020 for Graduate Students (Paid)

Details: http://bit.ly/2YyTl3z

U.S. Department of State’s TechGirls Program 2020 for Young Women from the US, Central Asia and MENA (Fully-funded to the US)

Details: http://bit.ly/3505jVD

Connecther Girls Impact the World Film Festival Competition 2020 (up to $25K in prizes)

Details: http://bit.ly/2qtxWfd

World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE Awards 2020 ($20,000 Prize)

Details: http://bit.ly/2pVr8ax


UNWTO World Tourism Students League 2020 for Future Tourism Leaders

Details: http://bit.ly/37mYgrO

Policy Leader Fellowship of the School of Transnational Governance at EUI 2020 for Policy Professionals (fully-funded)

Details: http://bit.ly/36auR3S

Thought For Food Challenge 2019/2020 for Changemakers (up to $25,000 in prizes)

Details: http://bit.ly/2pr1NVm

MCW Global Young Leaders Access Program 2020 (Fully-funded to the US)

Details: http://bit.ly/2OdiFaN


Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Maker Challenge 2020 (up to USD 1,000,000 in prizes)

Details: http://bit.ly/2OqYp6T

Vienna Biocenter Summer School 2020 for Students Worldwide (Funded to Austria)

Details: http://bit.ly/2rGXtTd

C40 Women4Climate Tech Challenge 2020 (up to $40,000 in funding)

Details: http://bit.ly/2RCkPUM

World Bank Summer Internship Program 2020 for Young Professionals (Paid position)

Details: http://bit.ly/2PrLe51

TOP 100 WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS TO INVEST IN 2020: Mrs Ngozi Oyewole, Managing Director of Noxie Limited

Ngozi Oyewole is the Managing Director of Noxie Limited, a leading manufacturer and service provider in Nigeria with a major emphasis on local content and local manufacturing. She is a certified and experienced Interior Designer.

In 2015, she was nominated by Forbes Magazine as one of the leading women entrepreneur in Africa championing business sustainability and women inclusion in business. She is also a WEConnect International award recipient for Woman of Excellence 2019.

Her business services cut across all spheres of businesses and major sectors in Nigeria such as the Oil and Gas, Communication, Banking, Power, Education, etc. Ngozi Oyewole (Mrs.) is a resilient, result-driven and ace ‘womentrepreneur’ with an extensive experience in leadership, business management and strategic planning.

She holds a degree in Business Administration, a certification in Oxford Driving Disruptive Growth Program from Said Business School, University of Oxford, and also undergoing a FT non-executive Director course, and a Road to Growth Training Program organized by Cherie Blair Foundation in conjunction with Exxon Mobil and Enterprise Development Center, Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria.

Ngozi Oyewole is also a 2019 award recipient of an Exceptional Leader of Excellence from the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and All Ladies League. She is a certified and active member of WeConnect International, SheTrade Commonwealth, WIMBIZ. She is a member cum Assistant Secretary of the International Women’s Society (IWS); a member of Lioness Club of Africa Group, Thrive Women Solution, GAIA Women Club, Global Fund for Women and World Pulse Group. She is a member of NGA ( Nigeria Gas Association) and also WEOG (women in Energy, oil &Gas).

She is the President of Mrs. Beatrice Chiebonam Foundation where she engages her influence to reach-out and render financial aids to over 400 widows yearly in various parts of Rivers State. She also organizes skill-based empowerment programs for women and mentors young female entrepreneur through the Cherie Blair Foundation and other platforms.

As a social crusader and philanthropist, she is a part of the team supporting education for the “Almajiri Child Right Initiative”; Women Impacting Nigeria and “When in Need” philanthropic group that seeks out to support the less privileged within her community.

With her position as the MD/CEO of Noxie Limited, she strategically positioned her company as both a national and an international brand by participating as sponsor and exhibitor of several events such as the WeConnect International Europe Conference 2018, SheTrade Commonwealth Program, African Women Entrepreneurship Program 2018, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trade Fair 2018 and 2019, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Members’ Exhibition 2018 and 2019.

Personal Social Media Links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/noyewole

Twitter: www.twitter.com/oyewolengozi

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ngozioyewole

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-oyewole-04163466

THE COMPANY

Noxie Limited is a woman-owned award winning SONCAP (SON/LSOII/CB/2324) and MAN (MAN/GML/05047) certified company and a leading manufacturer and service provider in Nigeria with specialty in the supply of world-class, bespoke and contemporary Office Furniture, Safety and Integrated Facility Services (PPE, Drilling Tools and Offshore Machineries, etc.), Trucking & Haulage Services, Barge & Tugboat Leasing and Corporate Branding Items.

Founded in December 2001 by Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, Noxie Limited is an active player in the Nigerian Manufacturing and Crude Oil Supply Chain. The company has been in existence for over 17 years, delivering world-class products and services to our esteemed clients.

Driven by its I.D.E.A.S: Innovation, Devotion, Efficiency, Accountability, Service Excellence; Noxie Limited has a team capacity of 25 to 30 staffs. The company operates in Nigeria in its flagship showroom “Noxie Court” in Lagos, and factory located in the heart of Lagos, Mushin, Nigeria. We also have branches in Port-Harcourt, Eket (Akwa-Ibom), and international branches in Togo and Ghana.

Noxie has a strategic business partnership with international organizations and Original Equipment Manufacturers such as PPE SERVICES B.V, Netherlands; MIGE Office Furniture, China; Tingley Corporation, USA. 

The company’s product is covered by its trademark number (NG/T/2014/1324). In addition, Noxie Limited enjoys the membership and certification by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDM), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), WeConnect International, SheTrades Commonwealth International, Dun and Bradstreet, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), NIPEX and also an active member of NACCIMA.

The company also exports its locally produced coveralls to neighboring African countries and companies as a member of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Our major services includes but not limited to:

·         Safety an Integrated Facility Services

Manufacture and supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Drilling Tools, Construction Machineries, Offshore Maintenance Equipment

·         Furniture and Fittings

Manufacture and supply of bespoke home and office furniture and fittings

·       

       Trucking and Haulage Services

Provision of end-to-end logistics services

·         Tugboat and Barge Leasing

Provision of sea freight services peculiar to offshore activities.

·         Corporate Branding

Manufacture and supply of branded and customized corporate gift items
and materials

How are you funded? And are you seeking funding?

Noxie Limited is funded by personal savings and investment capital of the CEO. There is a plan for the company to diversify its products and expand to other markets and as such, this might require additional funding in form of loan/grant subsequently. Yes, we are presently seeking funding for our expansion plans.

 Landmarks so far from founding date?

Noxie Limited’s major landmarks since inception are:

1 Supply of furniture and furnishing of the entire Oando Marketing Plc (now OVH Marketing Plc) building in Apapa in 2005

2 Supply of furniture and furnishing of the Oando Gas and Power Limited building in Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island, Lagos in 2016

3 Supply of furniture and furnishing of the entire OES Energy Services Limited building in Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, Lagos, 2017

4 Supply of furniture and furnishing of the entire west wing of the Wings Tower building in Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, for Oando Plc and Axxela Group in 2018

5. Major supply of Protective Equipment (PPE) to four (4) OES Energy Services Limited Rigs in Port Harcourt

6 Supply of furniture and furnishing of ENYO Retail and Supply building in Lekki, Lagos in 2017

7 Supply of furniture and furnishing of the entire Nigeria Breweries building in Iganmu, Lagos in 2019

Any expansion plans to other countries?

Yes I was at the past industrialization week at the African Union in Addis Ababa and had the privilege to be at the inauguration of the Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) one of the major objectives of PAMA is to provide a Pan-African Organization for the promotion of robust and competitive manufacturing industries in Africa.

So right now we are consolidating and undergoing intensive training in our industry to prepare us for when the right time comes. So our radar is out there, keeping a close watch at our competitors and making sure we are abreast new innovations to disrupt positively and keep us ahead. So at the right time, with the right climate of trading without borders as ACFTA is putting the right conditions in place.

Part of the expansion plan is The Afrochampions Initiative - The AFCTA and Business without Borders - The Game Changer going on presently at The Crystal Ball 2020 in Ghana. This is a game changing conference and initiative for businesses across African countries and International markets.

Collaboration is key to achieve this initiative and the globe is ready to maintain a trustworthy working relationship, we believe this is an opportunity not only for me and my company but for other Nigerian businesses with emphasis on growth and development of women-owned businesses.

What is year 2020 like for the company and customers?

We have set the tone for this year as a productive one. We are building our ultra-modern factory in the heart of mushin Lagos. This is a huge expansion to accommodate our esteem customers who, over the years have trusted us to meet their needs in providing them services in the integrated safety equipment which includes their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all other safety requirements in the Oil & Gas, Food &Beverage industries, Construction, Hospitals, and even the Maritime industry too. We have the most modern equipment to roll out world class office furniture.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is working hard to update the Nigeria customs of some of the challenges manufacturers face with the importation of consumables that are not readily available locally. So, we have put in place all that is required to keep our high standard quality locally manufactured products affordable.

Our staffs are well trained to operate the machines and we have engaged more trained women too as part of our strategy to support gender equality. We have set our goals high and just like any entrepreneur, we are equipped to ride the tide of the economy. We thank our customers for their kind patronage and look forward to a more engaging 2020!

Community Service

The issue of marital shocks and women’s welfare has not been given enough attention by policymakers trying to enhance women’s well-being and overall equality. In the absence of effective policies, a widow’s situation is likely to depend heavily on the social-cultural norms applying to women following the death of a husband, with implications for policy. It is even worse where I come from. 

My mother had a widows outreach called Beatrice Eke Widows outreach, so when she passed in 2010, I keyed into her vision to support the over 300 widows in different locations in Rivers state where I come from. I sat down and looked at major issues that these widows face which are

- Shock of a husband’s loss

-widowhood is associated with worse nutritional status

-cruelty and violence at the hands of in-laws

-the children’s welfare 

Etc

Looking at some of these challenges, I put my full energy to support them in various ways which are:

-Usually many widows feel lonely but I encouraged them like my mother used to do ( mum was a pastor) to come together and fellowship once a week where they pray and draw hope and strength from one another, with this they can have a sense that they belong somewhere, to a family. 

-I encourage them to pick up skills like weaving, soap making, sewing which I fund without support from government. With this initiative, some of the widows who have been thrown out of their late husband’s house can have a place to go and with the skills learnt they can make a living for themselves. To also impact other widows indirectly we encourage the widows to in turn train other widows to be self sufficient.

- we organize happy times and share food stuffs and clothing. 

- the young widows I encourage them to remarry.

-The very old widows indeed are given extra care by a carer. 

- I also organize medical outreach for them where they get free reading glasses prescribed by an optician, doctors give them thorough health check and we find a lot of them have high blood pressure, diabetes etc and they are treated and nursed back to good health.

- My mother was paying school fees for over 50 children, when she passed I continued from where she stopped through our Co-owned school ( I have 40%) she built in our community which the Education board of Anglican Church, Evo Dioceses is running as I do not live in PH . We have over 1,000 scholars from crèche to SS3.

Mrs Ngozie Oyewole is also the assistant secretary of IWS ( International Women Society) a group of International public spirited women. founded to work for the advancement of women of all races and to encourage and develop the common interests of women. She is also a member of a 21k group called Women Aging Gracefully where she got an award based on her immense contribution

 So I have indeed been busy and still busy amidst all from family to business and to impacting my community.

We are opened for business, partnership and investment as we expand.

Contact Details

Email: noxie@noxielimited.com; 

            info@noxielimited.com

Phone: 08064906812

Address: Plot 27, Block 74, Emma Abimbola Cole Street, Lekki, Lagos

Social Media Link of Business

Facebook: www.facebook.com/noxielimited
Twitter: www.twitter.com/noxielimited

Instagram: www.instagram.com/noxielimited

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/noxie-limited

A walk in the shoes of the less-privileged for a day...Toyin Lawani relates her son's experience

Toyin Lawani is the CEO and creative director of Tiannah’s Place Empire and also the founder of the Fashion Academy, Tiannah’s Styling Fashion Academy in Nigeria. She is also the producer of a reality TV show project titled “Diary of a Fashion Guru” which is aired on TV stations in the country.

To mark the 6th birthday celebration of her son, she made him go through the test of time to nurture his young mind towards the imbalance in life.

Quoting her words ''For my son's 6th Birthday shoot, I made him walk in the shoes of the less~privileged for a day.

We sold fruits to people and hawked in traffic, few people recognized us but didn’t care.
He didn’t stop asking me questions when we got home.
Anytime we drive past kids and I give them money, he’s always saying why this, why that. Now he understands.

Life isn't rosy all the time!
For those of us with pot bellies, blessed with abundance of jellies, observing table is not our thing.

There are others unlike us, with flattened
Tummies tossed to and fro hunger-driven, beaten by the reality of our lack.

For those of us unlike them, born with silver spoons shouldn't forget that circumstances and predicaments are cousins, we must teach our kids never to look down on anyone because they are more privileged. 

As Parents, we should teach our kids how to accommodate others with love''.

Happy New Year...#2020

Happy New Year

We made it...

A new year is a new chapter of book to write.

Never fail to ask 'Who am I?'

Never fail to find out 'What can I do to be better?'

Never fail to ask 'What else can add value to me?'

Never fail to find out 'What can I do to make the world a better place?'

Never leave your place of prayers.

Never stop to see the good in man even when otherwise.

Never fail to check on a friend, the world is stressed as many tend to be silent, a word of hello can save a life.

Never fail to smile, laugh, have fun and know the world goes round with such little effort.

Never fail to believe in yourself, ideas that come across your mind and works of your hands.

Keep faith in all you do

The path is never easy but his grace liveth forever

Go and make impacts this #2020 with your discovery, the world is waiting for you.

Signed Princess Adams