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By Zika Bobby
The Mary Ojulari Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to sustainable development and community empowerment in Nigeria, has awarded N50 million in grants to eight outstanding young entrepreneurs who participated in the second edition of its Vanguard Fellowship Cohort and recently completed the Foundation’s intensive two-week Ignite Bootcamp in Lagos.
The grant was announced by Mary Ojulari, Founder and President of the Foundation, at the Vanguard Fellowship Ignite Bootcamp Awards & Networking Cocktail Night, held on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos.
The winners of the Cohort Two Fellowship Grants are Safaya Ikechuckwu, Oluwakemi Olaniyan, Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula, Francis Obanijesu, Olatunde Omotayo Olufunke, Victoria Ogwanighie, Ubok Ameh and Adebayo Aishat Olajumoke. Each of the eight successful fellows will receive the sum of N6, 250,000.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mary Ojulari, Founder and President of the Foundation, reaffirmed the organisation’s mission to empower young Nigerians with the tools, networks, and capital required to build scalable and resilient businesses.
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“Our work is about unlocking potential because potential is Nigeria’s greatest asset. These entrepreneurs are solving real community problems, creating jobs, and refusing to be limited by circumstance. The Vanguard Fellowship exists to honour that courage while equipping them with the skills and support that can multiply their impact.”
She said the Ignite Bootcamp was delivered in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN and a diverse network of leaders across finance, manufacturing, media, healthcare, government, and development agencies. The program exposes fellows to practical case studies, strategic mentorship, and real-world insights.
She added that through this model, the Foundation ensures that fellows continue to receive guidance, access to markets, and opportunities long after the boot camp ends. She revealed that 50 promising entrepreneurs representing sectors such as Agro-Processing, Fashion, Manufacturing, Technology, Health, and the Creative industries participated in the edition of the cohort.
In her keynote speech, Mrs Yewande Zaccheaus, Chairman and Founder of Eventful Nigeria Limited, affirmed that for entrepreneurship to thrive in Nigeria, there is a need to invest in skills and knowledge, access to capital, digital literacy, supporting policies, mentorship ecosystems, and platforms like the Mary Ojulari Foundation.
