As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2021, USADF announced today the 25 inaugural enterprises to receive funding under the African Resilience Initiative for Entrepreneurs (ARIE). Launched in August 2020 and developed in partnership with Cote d’Ivoire-based grassroots development experts Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP), the ARIE program is designed to support African nations in rebuilding stronger and more competitive economies through resilient and thriving small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
The ARIE program will support 300 high-performing African entrepreneurs over five years with technical assistance and up to US$50,000 each in community re-investment grants to spur Africa’s economic recovery amidst COVID-19.
“Supporting motivated African entrepreneurs is an investment in the overall economic success of the continent,” said Acting USADF President and CEO Elisabeth Feleke. “We are excited to see how the promising entrepreneurs of the inaugural 2021 ARIE cohort will create resilience and prosperity for themselves and members of their communities in the years to come.”
“Our commitment at ESP is to support entrepreneurs as catalysts of economic development,” said ESP Co-Founder and Director Charity Kabango-Lowe. “With the ARIE program, we’ve been privileged to assist some of the most resilient entrepreneurs in Africa through our approach of Intelligent Capital * (the right combination of financing and technical assistance). Despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, these incredible entrepreneurs managed to not only retain their employees but also plan for and achieve growth in their businesses resulting in new jobs created. We strongly believe the ARIE entrepreneurs are pillars of resilience and pioneers of Africa’s long term social economic transformation.”
The inaugural ARIE entrepreneurs represent a variety of professions and enterprises and hail from six African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda.
Ghana
Seth Agyemang: New Leaf Hospital (Health)
Ekow Edusah: Spring Agric (Agribusiness)
Fafape Ama Etsa Foe: E90 Ghana Limited (Agribusiness)
Stephen Eku: Emigoh Ghana (Agribusiness)
Kwame A. Boateng: Sahel Grains (Agribusiness)
Kenya
Stanley Gitau: Six Degrees Consultancy Limited (Agribusiness)
Paul Githinji Mugo: Vestrak Africa Limited (Agribusiness)
Taita Ngetich: Synnefa Green Limited (Agribusiness)
Charlotte Magayi: Mukuru Clean Stoves Limited (Energy and Renewables)
Elizabeth Gikebe: Mhogo Foods Limited (Agribusiness)
Nigeria
Muhammad Abdullahi: eTrash2Cash (Manufacturing)
Esse Okey: Powerstove Energy (Energy and Renewables)
Emmanuel Okeke: Reno Emcore (Agribusiness)
Gbolahan Yusuf: Siloan Medical Center (Health)
Saeed Jumah: The Smile Shop Limited (Health)
Ben Oguh: Aetos (Essential Services)
Azeez Osanyin: Nuts About Cakes (Manufacturing)
Akinsoji Timilehin: Prado Power Limited (Energy)
Rwanda
Peter Waigwa: LOTEC Rwanda Limited (Agribusiness)
Martin Bunane: IMARB Group Limited (Agribusiness)
Yvette Ishimwe: Iriba Water Group Limited (Essential Services)
Francine Munyaneza: Munyax Eco (Energy and Renewables)
Senegal
Salamba Diene: Biosene (Agribusiness)
Uganda
Andrew Bamugye: Destiny Farms (Agribusiness)
Karima Amin Kamru: Gasopharm Co. Limited (Essential Services)