Two Nigerian tech Entrepreneurs, Olumide Ogunbanjo and Olusola Owonikoko have emerged as the only two African finalists for the British Council’s Study UK Awards in the Entrepreneurial and Social Impact categories respectively.
Olumide and Olusola are two of the twenty-eight (28) finalists shortlisted in the two categories. The finalists, many of whom were nominated by their host UK universities, have been selected from a global total of over 1,200 applicants.
Meet the two entrepreneurs representing Nigeria and Africa at the Awards.
Olusola Owonikoko (Project Enable Africa)
Olusola Owonikoko is the founder of Project Enable Africa, a Lagos-based startup promoting the access of persons with disabilities to ICT skills and opportunities.
Project Enable Africa promotes digital inclusion, advocacy and access to assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. The startup also set up the first-ever inclusion Hub in Nigeria to train talents with disabilities and connect them to economic opportunities.
Olusola holds a Master’s Degree in the field of Study Globalisation, Business and Development from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
Olusola’s Project Enable Africa received a $250,000 grant in 2018 after emerging as one of the winners of the Google Impact Challenge. In February 2021, the startup partnered with the US government to launch this year’s edition of its business support program for at least 50 businesses led by females with disabilities in Nigeria.
Olumide Ogunbanjo (AgroData)
Olumide Ogunbanjo has been recognised for his work at AgroData, an Oyo-based startup founded in 2017.
AgroData works to optimise production capacity for smallholder farmers by deploying the application of geo-information science, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning to upscale tropical farming.
The startup says it has worked with more than 1,000 farmers, restored 3,134 acres of farmland, and helped to improve the quality of life of 5,335 farmers and rural dwellers in Oke-Ogun, Nigeria.
Olumide studied Sustainable Agriculture at Coventry University as far back as 2008 and has gone on to become a changemaker in the agritech sector. In 2020, Olumide won a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Nigeria60 Independence Day celebrations hosted by Coventry University.
About the UK Study Awards
The Study UK Awards is hosted annually by the British Council to showcase the impact of UK university alumni who have made outstanding contributions to creating positive social change and improving their communities.
Winners get the opportunity to raise their international profile, build far-reaching professional networks and establish business connections.
All selected award finalists also benefit from increased press opportunities to boost their public profile and share their success with international audiences. Winners of the global awards will be celebrated on a global scale and invited to the UK for a networking and professional development opportunity.
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