Lagos, Nigeria – May 15, 2023
ARM’s Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) program has successfully concluded its sixth edition with a virtual pitch event held on April 19th, 2024. The program was established in honor of ARM’s founding CEO, Deji Alli, to support young entrepreneurs with innovative and sustainable ideas capable of impacting society positively.
After a thorough review of over 750 applications from start-up entrepreneurs across Nigeria, seven outstanding companies were selected to pitch their ideas. The selected startups were Ecobarter Company, Goods and Services 360 Limited, Smokeless Briquettes Limited, 10MG Pharma, OJ Technologies Ltd, Zedit Technologies Limited, and Sanwo Technologies Limited.
The finalists delivered captivating pitches, demonstrating their ingenuity and the potential of their technologies to disrupt various industries. A panel of judges, comprising industry experts, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, tech enthusiasts, and seasoned professionals, evaluated the pitches and selected the winner.
The winner of DAAYTA 2024, Ecobarter Company by Rita Idehai, received funding of ₦12,000,000 (twelve million naira) spanning over a period of one (1) year. This grant will support the company in developing their business plan, completing an entrepreneurial education at the Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) in Lagos, Nigeria, and receiving five-month acceleration support for the development of their venture through a reputable entrepreneurial hub in Lagos, Nigeria.
The DAAYTA program is a proof of ARM’s dedication to empowering entrepreneurs that contribute to the Nigerian economy and are focused on becoming change makers in their communities. The CEO of ARM Group, Jumoke Ogundare, said in her opening remarks, “Our focus this year is on businesses that are solving problems that impact on a large scale. We have many common problems across Africa; we need entrepreneurs who can provide solutions for these problems and improve on the solutions provided, so we can tell an African story ten years from now as a result of what they’re building.”
Collaborator-In-Chief of TVC Labs, Tomi Davies, added that “through DAAYTA 2024, we anticipate the emergence of groundbreaking solutions, and look forward to witnessing entrepreneurial ventures that are not only innovative but also sustainable and scalable, addressing critical societal issues, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and economic exclusivity.”
This year’s competition also celebrated the diversity of talent and highlighted exceptional creativity among entrepreneurs, notably accentuating the remarkable contributions of women entrepreneurs in positions of leadership. The prominence of women-led ventures among the top three positions, emphasizes the indispensable role of women in driving transformation and igniting innovation within the entrepreneurial landscape.
About ARM
ARM is a leading investment management firm that provides diverse asset management services to a broad and diversified client base, including corporations, foundations and charities, high net-worth individuals, and small savers. Established in 1994 as an asset management firm, Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM) has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most innovative and respected non-bank financial institutions focusing on Traditional Asset Management and Specialized Funds.
For more information about ARM or the DAAYTA Program, visit www.arm.com.ng or www.tvcng.com.
