Billionaire Supports Nigerian Teen Entrepreneurs To Surmount The World‏

Over 250 teenagers from 15 countries were in Seoul, South Korea to compete in the 13^th annual Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (“SAGE”) World Cup tournament on August 6-9. SAGE was founded at California State University, Chico in 2002.The Korean Trade and Investment Association (KOTRA), part of the Korean Ministry and Trade and Industry, served as the host.

There are two categories of competition. The first category is the Best Socially-Responsible Business and the second category is the Best Social Enterprise. The top three teams in each category win prize money, a trophy and bragging rights as the world’s best youth enterprise teams. 

At the competition teams make 15 minutes presentation to explain details of their entrepreneurial and community service ventures to a panel of business and civic leaders.

It is worthy to note that SAGE Nigeria has won the World Cup six times in the last seven years- Ukraine 2007, Abuja 2008, Brazil 2009, New York 2011, San Francisco USA 2012, and Abuja 2013.

“The vision of SAGE Nigeria is synchronous with one of the core objectives of my Foundation, said Sir Emeka Offor, the billionaire businessman, who is the founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF).”

 “At the Foundation, our focus is on not only in the provision of health services to the less privileged but also in education and youth empowerment. Our children must be given a fair chance to compete in our fast developing world, locally and internationally. SAGE offers that opportunity to them in the area of creative skills, entrepreneurship and human capacity development. Therefore, I am very pleased to support their efforts.”

The SAGE teams that represented Nigeria the in the Best Social Enterprise and Best Socially Responsible Business categories are from University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School .

 The team known as the Craft House SAGE team is in the business of recycling waste cooking oil into biodiesel they branded-CAL-BIOFUEL. The other enterprise by the Craft House SAGE team is the recycling of waste bottles and papers into building tiles they branded Craft House Tiles.

Philippines will host the 2016 edition of the SAGE World Cup and according to Kingsley Eke, SAGE Nigeria project manager, Nigerian teenagers are one of the most enterprising and energetic in the world and they are set to retain the trophy in Philippines.