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The Jerry Eze Foundation, the charitable arm of Pastor Jerry Eze, has made a major intervention in Nigeria’s small business landscape with the disbursement of over N1 billion in grants to 240 entrepreneurs drawn from across the country.
The Grant Award Ceremony, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, attracted a wide spectrum of Nigeria’s political leaders, business executives, clergy, and entertainment figures, all gathered to witness what was described as a significant push toward grassroots economic empowerment.
Each of the 240 beneficiaries received $3,000 in funding support to either expand existing businesses, stabilise operations, or launch new ventures. The initiative is positioned as part of the Foundation’s broader mission to convert faith-driven philanthropy into measurable economic impact, particularly for micro and small-scale enterprises that often face limited access to financing.
To ensure transparency and credibility, the Foundation engaged global consulting firm KPMG to oversee the selection process. According to organisers, over 16,000 applications were received through the dedicated portal, while 9,668 applicants met the eligibility requirements and completed the full process. From this pool, 240 entrepreneurs were carefully selected from different parts of Nigeria.
The selection criteria focused on three strategic sectors seen as vital to Nigeria’s economic transformation: agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, and technology and digital services.
Officials said the process was designed to be rigorous, merit-based, and transparent, ensuring that only businesses with strong growth potential and community impact were selected.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, former World Bank Vice President (Africa Region) and former Nigerian Minister of Education, challenged the beneficiaries to think beyond small-scale survival and focus on scalable impact.
She stressed that Africa’s development demands intentional expansion rather than incremental progress. “What our continent needs is scale, not just growth for growth’s sake, but deliberate, purposeful expansion that matches the size of the problems we are called to solve,” she said. She further urged recipients to maximise the opportunity before them, adding that the resources and platform had already been provided. “Africa is watching. Build accordingly,” she noted.
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Also speaking, Dr Ibukun Awosika, former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, described the initiative as a vital bridge between potential and progress. She advised the entrepreneurs to embrace collaboration, continuous learning, and openness to experience in order to build sustainable institutions.
“The smartest entrepreneurs are not those who know everything, but those who recognise they don’t,” she said, adding that long-term success depends on leveraging the knowledge and experiences of others within their ecosystem.
In his remarks, Pastor Jerry Eze explained that the initiative was inspired by values instilled by his late mother, whom he credited for shaping his philosophy of giving.
“My late mum taught me that you can give everything. Everything I know about giving, I learned from her,” he said. He encouraged beneficiaries to see the grant as a responsibility to create value beyond personal gain, extending impact to their communities and the nation at large. He expressed optimism that the funding would produce visible transformation in the coming year.
The event drew prominent figures including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede; UBA Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Flutterwave CEO, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola; Dr Stanley Uzochukwu of Delborough Group; and businessman Obi Cubana.
Religious leaders such as Pastor Poju Oyemade and Apostle Emmanuel Iren were also present, alongside entertainment personalities including Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Tonto Dikeh, Timi Dakolo, Cross Okonkwo, and Bucci Franklin.
The initiative highlights a growing movement of private and faith-based interventions aimed at closing financing gaps, strengthening small businesses, and driving inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
