The Mary Ojulari Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation focused on sustainable development and community empowerment in Nigeria, has awarded N50 million in grants to eight young entrepreneurs who took part in the second edition of its Vanguard Fellowship Cohort. The entrepreneurs had recently completed the Foundation’s intensive two-week Ignite Bootcamp held in Lagos.
The announcement was made by Mary Ojulari, Founder and President of the Foundation, during the Vanguard Fellowship Ignite Bootcamp Awards and Networking Cocktail Night. The event took place on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos.
The recipients of the Cohort Two Fellowship Grants are Safaya Ikechuckwu, Oluwakemi Olaniyan, Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula, Francis Obanijesu, Olatunde Omotayo Olufunke, Victoria Ogwanighie, Ubok Ameh, and Adebayo Aishat Olajumoke. Each of the eight fellows will receive N6,250,000 to support and scale their business ideas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mary Ojulari reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians with the right tools, networks, and capital to build strong and scalable businesses. She said, “Our work is about unlocking potential because potential is Nigeria’s greatest asset. These entrepreneurs are solving real community problems, creating jobs, and refusing to be limited by circumstance. The Vanguard Fellowship exists to honour that courage while equipping them with the skills and support that can multiply their impact.”
Ojulari explained that the Ignite Bootcamp was organised in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN, along with leaders from sectors such as finance, manufacturing, media, healthcare, government, and development agencies. The program provided practical case studies, strategic mentorship, and real-world insights that helped shape the fellows’ approaches to business growth.
She added that the Foundation’s model ensures that participants continue to receive mentorship, improved market access, and fresh opportunities even after the bootcamp ends. She also noted that 50 promising entrepreneurs across sectors including Agro-Processing, Fashion, Manufacturing, Technology, Health, and the Creative industries took part in this cohort.
In her keynote address, Mrs Yewande Zaccheaus, Chairman and Founder of Eventful Nigeria Limited, stated that for entrepreneurship to flourish in Nigeria, there must be continued investment in skills, knowledge, access to capital, digital literacy, supportive policies, mentorship networks, and platforms like the Mary Ojulari Foundation.
