How Collins emerged winner of Teach For Nigeria’s N2m seed grant

Nwabuike Odike is the founder of Waste to Design Creation ·emerged as the winner of Teach For Nigeria’s N2 million seed grant for the 2024 incubation hub pitch competition.

Collins, alumni of the TFN defeated 10 other innovators who partook in a three-month enterprise development training.

The graduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology’s invention ‘Waste to Design Project’ was adjudged the overall best innovation after rigorous pitching sessions.

Joy Ifeanyi’s  ‘Waste to Desks’ was awarded the first runner-up position, securing N1 million, while Babajide Ajayi’s ‘The Warriors’ Project’ earned the second runner-up spot, receiving N500,000.

Other innovators who vied for a chance to win the grant are the 2024 Incubation Innovators Agnes Onyekwere Disu with her Project Mend aimed to empower women with vocational training.

Paschal Anyanwu’s Digital Empowerment Network for bridging the digital divide;  Oluwatobi Sonde’s Project DELIC (Digital Education in Low-Income Communities) to promote STEAM and digital literacy.

Boluwatife Agbona’s EDUDIET is tackling malnutrition for children in low-income communities; Grace Kolawole’s Kids’ Nurture Initiative is increasing school attendance through meal programmes.

Others are Shulammite Ajayi’s Vocational Skills and Empowerment Foundation is provides youth vocational training; Adeyanju Adeyoola’s BKind Initiative is reducing bullying with an educational game.

Moreover, Teach For Nigeria (TFN) held its 2024 edition of its Incubation Hub pitch competition, reaffirming its commitment to empowering its alumni to scale their “Be The Change” Projects (BTCP) into social enterprises addressing critical challenges in education and community development.

The organisation expressed delight and applauded the Oando Foundation for its unwavering support of the incubation hub since its inception in 2020.

TFN emphasised that the partnership has been instrumental in fostering innovation and driving the growth of impactful social enterprises across the country.

Besides, it called for more sponsors, volunteers, and partners to join the organisation in empowering these early-stage innovators who are working to promote access to quality education and uplift children in low-income communities.

“Together, we can create lasting change and build a brighter future for children across Nigeria,” TFN said.

Teach For Nigeria is a non-profit organisation that mobilises leaders to expand educational opportunities and equity for children from marginalised backgrounds.

Since its inception, Teach For Nigeria has recruited and placed over 2,463 fellows, directly impacting over 160,000 students across four states in Nigeria.

The organisation’s model is based on the proven success of 60+ countries and six continents, including Teach For America, Teach First UK, Lead For Ghana, Teach For Bangladesh, Teach For Armenia, and Teach For India, all part of the Teach For All network.