13 Entrepreneurs Get N50m Grants From Bank, CSR Initiative

No fewer than 13 entrepreneurs and small business owners have received N50 million in business grants under an initiative supported by PremiumTrust Bank in partnership with the Hallelujah Challenge Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team.

The grants were presented to beneficiaries at a recent award ceremony held at the Hallelujah Challenge Centre in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the managing director and chief executive officer of PremiumTrust Bank, Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to strategic partnerships that create opportunities and positively impact lives.

He noted that the bank had previously collaborated with the Hallelujah Challenge on similar interventions and described the platform as one that transforms lives and helps nurture aspirations. “We believe that it is a platform where lives are impacted and dreams are birthed. As a bank, we felt it was compelling to associate with the initiative in partnership with Hallelujah Challenge,” Emefienim said.

He added that, in addition to providing grants, the bank organised business training programmes for beneficiaries to enhance their capacity to manage resources and scale their businesses. “Apart from the business grants given to the winners, we have also trained them adequately to give them a sense of how to deploy their resources in upscaling their businesses. This will also help them to be more focused and more intentional whilst we support them all the way,” he said.

Also speaking, the Convener and Founder of Hallelujah Challenge, Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, commended PremiumTrust Bank for supporting the initiative, saying the partnership would deepen the programme’s impact on communities.

According to him, the Hallelujah Challenge was established to extend beyond worship sessions to delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives, adding that the collaboration would enable more individuals and communities to benefit from such interventions.

The 13 beneficiaries emerged through an online business pitch process that attracted entries from millions of Nigerians, with organisers stating that the final selection was conducted transparently. Among the beneficiaries, poultry farmer Inya Michael Irem received the highest grant of N5 million after emerging as the overall winner. First runners-up Samuel Sunday Oton, Yaya Olayinka Precious, Mirriam Bwalya and Lois Mazi received N2.5 million each, while eight other beneficiaries received N1 million each. Other beneficiaries included Nomuoja Edesiri, Omolola Subair, Samson Aderibigbe Adewale, Numa Satu Jakitay, Favour Christopher Uchechi, Adeboye Oluwapelumi Adepeju, Gbenga Mike Olaosebikan and Ilesanmi Oluwafunke Deborah.