UNILAG Student Tomiwa Olayemi Wins BITE 2.0 Competition

Tomiwa Olayemi, a 400-level Actuarial Science student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), won the BITE 2.0 competition with his business, "The-Father Chow," securing 4 million naira in prize money.

May 24, 2024 - 12:45

UNILAG Student Tomiwa Olayemi Wins BITE 2.0 Competition

Tomiwa Olayemi, a 400-level Actuarial Science student from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has emerged as the winner of the Business Innovation and Talent Expression (BITE) 2.0 competition. His innovative business, "The-Father Chow," which provides quality, affordable, and nutritious meals to students, secured the top prize at the grand finale held on May 16, 2024, at the Faculty of Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UNILAG, Akoka.

Tomiwa Olayemi bested nine other finalists from a pool of 243 contestants over a five-month intense competition. He impressed the judges and audience with his compelling business pitch, earning a total of 4 million naira in prize money. This includes 2 million naira from the Oladele Fajemirokun Foundation and an additional 2 million naira from Emadeb Energy Services Limited.

Other notable winners include:

- Second Place: Team Phoenix, represented by Aminat Ojikutu and Folarin Eribake, won 3 million naira for their eco-friendly plastic waste paving blocks, designed to tackle plastic pollution and reduce maintenance costs and environmental impact.

- Third Place: Fladov, pitched by Titoluwa Amoo and Daniel Ebabhi, secured 2 million naira for their platform that supports local businesses in Nigeria.

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Several participants received special recognition and monetary rewards:

- Best Innovation Prize: Taiwo Yussuf, a Process Engineering master’s student, received 1.2 million naira for his energy-efficient refrigerator prototype.

- Innovation in Craft: Safanah Dhikrullah, a 200-level Physiotherapy student, received 500,000 naira for her crochet bag venture, Safyarn Craft.

- Educational Innovation: Abdulquadri Ojure, a 200-level Economics student, received 750,000 naira for his business, Mobile Academy Limited, offering interactive learning services.

The Vice-Chancellor, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) Prof. Lucian Chukwu, emphasized UNILAG’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among students. The event featured prominent judges and industry leaders, including Adebowale Olujimi, CEO of Emadeb Energy Services Ltd., and Iyioluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela & Flutterwave, who shared valuable insights and doubled the prize money for the winners.

The Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC) at UNILAG, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, announced plans to make the BITE competition regional, opening future editions to federal universities in South-West Nigeria. The Executive Director of the Oladele Fajemirokun Foundation, Olawunmi Fajemirokun, encouraged participants to remember their journey and give back when they achieve success.

The event also featured past winners of BITE 1.0, who shared their experiences and successes, inspiring current contestants. The competition highlighted the importance of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and the significant role of academic institutions in nurturing future business leaders.