In commemoration of its 20th Anniversary, LEAP Africa hosted over 1500 people including partners from across the continent to the 10th edition of the Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) 2022 held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
At the conference, 23 fellows were honoured and received certificates of completion. Three of the fellows were recognised in three award categories.
The Social Innovators Programme (SIP) supports creative young Africans (ages 18 – 35) from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Cameroon, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania with ideas and initiatives to proffer practical solutions to identified challenges in local communities across the continent.
The initiatives of the fellows cover various aspects of society such as agriculture, youth empowerment, education, science and technology, health, law and human rights.
SIP is a one-year fellowship that provides fellows with skills and tools to aid the growth and sustainability of their social enterprises such as mentoring, one-on-one coaching learning and funding.
At the end of the fellowship year, LEAP Africa and partners – Union Bank, Sahara Foundation and Ford Foundation honoured deserving fellows with various awards in different categories.
At the event, Managing Partner of Sovereign’s Capital, Henry Kaestner, emphasised three key elements to note when starting a business. He listed them as mission/vision, resources and the right people.
He admonished entrepreneurs to focus on doing the work, saying: “money only comes in when the mission, passion and fruit of the labour are well communicated”.
Also speaking in the speed talk session, Director of Global Prosperity at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, Efosa Ojomo, described the major problem most entrepreneurs face as the inability to consistently approach social issues to a conclusive end.
Co-founder of GirlTrek, Vannesa Garrison, spoke on the historical dimension of social innovation. She shared how African women pioneered the most disruptive innovations that have stood the test of time. She encouraged more women to be their own most significant cause and encouraged them to prioritise their lives.
Three fellows were recognised in three award categories – The Innocent Chukwuma Award for Youth and Gender Empowerment in South-Eastern Nigeria, the Seyi Bickersteth Award for Financial Integrity and Accountability and the Outstanding Fellow Award. Amanda Obidike, Evelyn Odeh, Idris Ola and Akorfa Dawson won the awards.
