By Ebele Orakpo

It has been proved over and over again that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the way to go if a nation wants to grow its economy. The reason is that SMEs are known to create more jobs than governments and with job creation, crime rate is reduced as more people and gainfully employed. With this at the back of their mind, MTN Nigeria, through its MTN Next Business Titan, a proudly Nigerian Entrepreneurial Reality TV Show for young Nigerian Entrepreneurs, sought to empower entrepreneurs who will create the much needed jobs for the teeming youths of Nigeria and help grow the nation’s economy.

At the end of the 13 weeks MTN Next Business Titan reality contest which featured 16 contestants, 27-year-old Iroghama Ogbeifun, Chief Executive Officer of Hairven Hair care products, a London-based, emerged winner and went away with the N5m jackpot in addition to a 2013 Ford Focus plus a four-year free post-presentation service of the car by Briscoe Ford.

Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Iroghama studied in the UK and later returned to Nigeria for the one year compulsory National Youth Service. After her youth service, she went back to the UK for her Master’s degree. She started the hair care products business in London as a result of her passion for stylish hair and today, she has continued to build upon the business in Nigeria.

According to Iroghama, she took part in the MTN Next Business Titan show because she felt it was the perfect platform to realise her “burning desire to take Nigerian youths off vices by providing them with employment opportunities.”

*Iroghama Ogbeifun standing by her 2013 Ford Focus, displaying her N5 million cheque

The contest:

MTN Next Business Titan ran for a period of 13 weeks, featuring 16 bright young Nigerian contestants, competing to earn support and investments for their business ideas. The 16 contestants were selected from thousands who went for auditioning in three major cities in Nigeria.

Every week, the contestants worked in two teams, each under the guidance of a project manager, to compete in business-driven tasks around Lagos, Nigeria. With each week coming with its own unique tasks, each team deployed ideas, creativity and business acumen to surmount challenges. Contestants were subjected to long hours, tough deadlines, intellectual challenges, personality clashes and intense analysis under the alert observation of their supervisors and judges.  The end of each  boardroom session saw the eviction of those contestants who were not strong enough to take the heat.

As the weeks rolled by, it seemed the female contestants were taking the lead, proving that the African woman is, indeed, no longer a push-over or one to be  relegated to the kitchen. The performance of women challenged viewers to realise the undeniable role of women in the world economy. One of the contestants, Zion, confessed that in the house, he met “women who acted like ladies but thought and fought like men.”

On week 12, only three of the contestants were left – Olanrewaju Tinuade, Iroghama and Ejeke Emeka.

At the grand finale, which held at the Grand Ball Room of Oriental Hotel Lekki, the final three contestants, in executing their final tasks, displayed the creativity, zeal and viability of their personal business ideas. They slugged it out before hundreds of guests who came to watch the titans battle.     Each presented and defended their business ideas.

After their presentation, Ejeke Emeka was voted out as the weakest link while Ogbeifun Iroghama was declared the winner.

Speaking at the grand finale, the General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN,  Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, noted that the show was committed to exposing young Nigerians to business and entrepreneurial experiences inherent in our environment, thereby supporting and building upon the   enterprising spirit embedded in the average young Nigerian.

The contestants confessed that MTN Next Business Titan had made a positive impact on them, noting that their stay in the academy had made them stronger and put in them the faith that they could achieve their dreams.