Three young Nigerian entrepreneurs with innovative startups emerged as winners of the 2024 edition of the TotalEnergies StartUpper of The Year Challenge, each receiving an N8 million grant as financial support. Temitope Yakubu of Interkool by FarmCl won in the Innov’Up Category of the competition, Jacob Abiodun of Coconoto emerged victorious in the Cycle’Up Category, and Emmanuel Abah of Waste2Light Limited won in the Power’Up Category. The winners, aged between 18 and 35, were among the 15 finalists selected in Nigeria.
They were unveiled in Lagos at a ceremony marking the end of the competition, which spanned months of active pitching of their business ideas. Additionally, they were among the 100 winners from the 32 participating African countries celebrating TotalEnergies’ 100 years of existence.
Nigerian entrepreneurs secure TotalEnergies grants
Under the competition’s rules, each participating startup must be based in one of the participating countries. Each country produced three winners, with an additional four Pan-African Grand Prize winners selected by an international jury for the ‘Sustainable and Affordable Energy‘ segment of the Power’Up category. Chairman of TotalEnergies Companies in Nigeria, Mr.
Matthew Bouyer, explained that the project aimed to support and develop a dynamic and responsible entrepreneurial ecosystem, bringing together players from different sectors to improve living conditions and respect for the planet. Bouyer stated, “TotalEnergies wishes to promote innovation and entrepreneurship and support the socio-economic development of the countries where the company operates by supporting the most innovative young entrepreneurs in realizing their projects. The challenge contributes to strengthening the local social fabric through responsible projects.”
The TotalEnergies StartUpper of The Year Challenge targets entrepreneurs who have created an innovative startup within the last three years, positively impacting their communities or the planet, regardless of their activity sector.
