- For 10th LEAD Big Innovation Festival
- As Top Entrepreneurs, Politician, Technocrats Gathered
The much talked about 10th LEAD Big Innovation Festival hosted by LEAD Project Africa was held penultimate Sunday, October 21, 2018, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
The event inspired b Bullion media attracted the crème-de-la-crème of the society, successful entrepreneurs and achievers in every area of human endeavours. The memory of the event lingers on because it was an evening of innovations, interactions and business networking among leading entrepreneurs and captains of industry in Africa.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were His Excellency, Dr Umar Ganduje, Executive Governor of Kano State; Dr. Hafsa Ganduje, Kano State First Lady; Alhaji Idris Dawakin Tofa, Permanent Secretary (Protocol) Kano State Government House; Comrade Muhammad Garba, Kano State Commissioner for Information; Dr. Bola Akindele, Group Managing Director, Courteville Business Solutions Plc; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National leader, represented by Mr. Wale Edun, Ex-Commissioner for Finance, Lagos state; Mr. Moshood Salvador, Former Lagos State PDP Chairman; Mr. Taiwo Joda, CEO, Accion Microfinance Bank; Mr. Toyin Ayinde, Ex-Lagos State Commissioner for Physical planning; Olori Ladun Sijuwade,wife of Ooni Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Princess Adebowale Odutola,Group CEO TPS Luxury, a proudly made in Nigeria multi-million dollars brand; Mrs.Yemisi Iranloye, CEO, Psaltry International Ltd; Engr. Charles Uba; Prof. V.O Imadun; Senator Olalekan Solomon; Olusegun Mcmedal, Chairman, NIPR, Lagos Chapter; Lanre Ijaola, West Africa Director BEN TV UK; Jide Oladiran, Group CEO, Core Media etc.
Among the speakers at the event was Dr Bola Akindele, GMD, Courteville Business Solutions Plc who spoke extensively on the theme “Exploring Great Innovations, Building Institutions in Africa. Akindele’s educative speech was followed by a speech from His Excellency, Dr Umar Ganduje, Executive Governor of Kano State. In his speech, the governor advised African entrepreneurs to, like the event’s theme stipulated, explore big ideas, utilize their creativity, which will undoubtedly enable extensive institution building in Africa.
This year’s event also witnessed an educative speech from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC). His speech was delivered by Mr Wale Edun, Ex-Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State. It would be recalled that all speakers at the event spoke extensively on the need for entrepreneurs to explore great innovations in building institutions in Africa.
Among the major programmes for the event was Think-tank Panel anchored by Busola Tunwase, a TVC News Anchor. The session witnessed juxtaposition of ideas on creative innovation and future thinking. Panellists that did justice to the theme before them are Dr Bola Akindele, GMD, Courteville Group, one of Africa’s ICT most innovative organization and Mr Taiwo Joda, CEO, Accion Microfinance Bank. Paul Jide Peters, the CEO BULLION MEDIA/ E.D, LEADProject Africa reiterated in his speech that “One of the biggest Innovations to come out of Africa is mobile money transfer, which has disrupted traditional financial models in Africa. The technology behind it has now being exported to the west. The continent is starting to see the rise of e-healthcare solutions and online education solutions.
For the first time in decades, we are seeing a new trend of being technology Innovators rather than just mere consumers, and more innovators from Silicon Valley are partnering with Africa for co-creation of value. However, we must sustain and continue to drive the technology and innovation boom… we must create great momentum and explore more Opportunities by taking advantage of global best practices. We need to build more partnerships. We need to think global while we act locally. And network with best in the world”. The LEAD Project Africa is a social enterprise initiatives designed to ignite the Spirit of Enterprise, Creativity, Innovation and Service Excellence, and also stimulating economic growth in Africa. The LEAD celebrates and recognizes creativity, innovations, brilliant ideas and enterprises in various sectors of the African economy. Among the objectives are to proffer solutions to economic Challenges and business growth in Africa. Meanwhile, the highpoint of the 10th LEAD BIG INNOVATION FESTIVAL was the presentation of awards to deserving corporate organizations and Innovators who have contributed immensely to the growth and Africa development through their sectors.
Among top personalities and corporate organizations honoured at the event are Governor Umar Ganduje; Governor of the year (Infrastructural development); Courteville Business Solutions Plc, The LEAD Grand Award for I.T Innovation; Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Global Leadership Prize for Entrepreneurship Philanthropy in Africa; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, African Change Leadership Prize; Peter Cole, a Young Shipping Magnate, emerged as the Young Innovator of the Year ; Uyime Idem, CEO Idems Group, Telecoms Entrepreneur of the Year; Princess Adebowale Odutola, The LEAD Grand Award for Excellence in the Fashion Industry, Dr. Seye Kehinde, Publisher, City People Group, LEAD Grand Award for Excellence in Journalism; Kenny Jones, African Clothier of the Year; Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye, CEO Psaltry International, a startup with over 300 workforce bagged the Global Business Woman of Excellence Award; Sifax group, LEAD Grand Award for Distinction in Logistics Services and Accion Microfinance Bank, LEAD Award for Excellence in Microfinancing etc.
The 10th LEAD also had support from several organizations among which were Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Courteville Business Solutions, Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency {LASAA}, i7 Fashion.
