EIBD Honours Outstanding Entrepreneurs

Okomowho Anthonia-

In a bid to stimulate entrepreneurial development in West Africa, the ECOWAS International Business Directory (EIBD), last week, hosted the ECOWAS Business Gold Award. 

While delivering a lecture titled ‘Creating Wealth through Value Added Agro Allied Products in West Africa’, Mr A.S Vwhereka, CEO of Frijay Consult Ltd, pointed out that “the future of ECOWAS lies on the creation of value for primary produce. The fact that our local products are being exported and brought back as finished goods kills entrepreneurial experiment in the region.” 

On the reason for giving the awards, Fola Aiyeola, Editor in chief of ECOWAS International Business Directory, said that “people across West Africa lack a reading culture. The awards are therefore given to honour people and organizations with outstanding performances in terms of their contribution to education and business entrepreneurship in the region.” 

The winners of the awards include the Nigerian Gas and Steel Company, which won the Super Brands Leadership Award; the Nigerian Import and Export Bank, which won the ECOWAS Super Brands and Export Bank of the year; Prince Emeka Anyabazu, who won the ECOWAS Business Man Of The Year; and 7up Bottling Company, which won the award for Super Brand Drink of the year. 

The event took place at the Women Development Centre, Pen Cinema, in Agege Lagos.