SESEI 2025: 40 Young Entrepreneurs Receive ₦4m in Startup Grants

Over 600 students from across the South East region converged at the ASUU Secretariat, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, for the South East Students Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SESEI) Conference, a landmark gathering widely hailed as a turning point for youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

The 2025 edition of SESEI, convened by Mr. Emmanuel Anabueze, founder of the Humanitarian Achievement and Outreach Foundation, provided a powerful platform for young innovators, startup founders, and industry professionals to share ideas, gain practical knowledge, and access funding support.

In one of the day’s major highlights, 40 student entrepreneurs were awarded ₦100,000 each in startup funding — a total of ₦4 million — to help scale their business ventures. The grants were made possible through contributions from Flamingo Car Tech, the Sir & Lady Judith Orji Foundation, and other collaborative partners.

“We believe in investing not only in ideas but in the young minds behind them,” said Mr. Anabueze in his opening remarks. “SESEI is not just a conference — it is a platform to identify, equip, and elevate the next generation of changemakers.”

The conference featured compelling keynote presentations by professionals from various industries, each delivering tailored insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Dr. Sammy Adrian Ajufo, a media executive and Dean of the School of Communications and Media Studies at LLBSUK, spoke on the importance of media and branding, highlighting how strategic communication can help startups attract attention and scale their businesses.

Serial entrepreneur Mrs. Rosemary Ezeani, Director of the Oluebube Charity Foundation, encouraged attendees to build businesses that create lasting impact. “Multiply value,” she urged, “by rooting your ventures in vision, heart, and service.”

Sir Orjinta Nnaemeka Orji, Director at Kyndryl and Co-Founder of NEXTGENAI LTD, emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for young business owners. He called on students to leverage digital tools for innovation and long-term competitiveness.

In a session on value-led leadership, real estate expert ESV Arnold Ekweoba, Founder of Arnold & Associates Group, challenged participants to align their business models with strong personal values. “Purpose is the new power,” he said.

The event also hosted three engaging panel discussions featuring ten rising entrepreneurs, who shared real-life lessons on business clarity, branding, financial discipline, and mental wellness. Among the panelists were Vivian Ohawusaokwu (DozzaVille), Chidinma Okoye (DressBySeentia), Somto Ezeaniomenyi (SOMTEE Group), and Offor Paschal (PassyXchange), alongside real estate coach Okeke Victor (Babanla) and comedian-entrepreneur Ukpai Chinecherem Prince (Prince Neche), among others. Their stories resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom described the event as both inspiring and empowering.

Participants expressed immense appreciation for the platform and support provided through SESEI 2025. “This was the best thing that has happened to me as a student. I now understand how to turn my idea into a real business,” said Chukwuemeka, a final-year student who received one of the ₦100,000 grants.

Another attendee, Amaka, described the conference as groundbreaking. “I have never seen a student-focused program executed at this scale. SESEI gave us hope that someone believes in us.”

The 2025 SESEI Conference has set a new standard for student-focused entrepreneurship initiatives in Nigeria. With practical training, startup funding, and exposure to real-world experience, it positioned student innovators not just to dream, but to build and scale meaningful ventures.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Anabueze reaffirmed his commitment to growing the initiative: “This is just the beginning. We will keep building, keep supporting, and keep believing in our youth.”

As anticipation builds for the next edition, SESEI 2025 stands as a shining example of how strategic investment in student potential can ignite long-term innovation and social impact across Africa.

Source: Legit.ng