Bet9ja Foundation disburses ₦40m to 10 entrepreneurs, crowns Schooled Afrika winner
By Precious Enaike
The Bet9ja Foundation has disbursed ₦40 million in grants to 10 Nigerian entrepreneurs under the second edition of its ScaleUp Business Accelerator, with education technology platform Schooled Afrika emerging as the overall winner and receiving the ₦10 million grand prize at the programme’s Pitch Night held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event marked the culmination of the Foundation’s flagship 10-week accelerator programme, which equipped selected entrepreneurs with business strategy sessions, mentorship, masterclasses and one-on-one advisory support before they pitched their businesses before a panel of judges, investors, business leaders and other ecosystem stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Bet9ja Foundation, Ada Cuomo, said the initiative was designed to do more than provide financial support, stressing that the Foundation is committed to creating an enabling environment where entrepreneurs can build resilient and sustainable businesses.
According to her, the programme equips participants with the confidence, knowledge and networks required to grow businesses capable of creating lasting economic impact.
“ScaleUp is about more than providing grants. It is about creating the conditions for Nigerian entrepreneurs to build stronger and more sustainable businesses. We want these founders to leave the programme with the confidence, knowledge and networks to take their businesses further,” she said.
Also speaking, Marketing Manager of Bet9ja Foundation, Omotola Oronti, described ScaleUp as one of the Foundation’s flagship entrepreneurship programmes aimed at supporting innovative Nigerian businesses through funding, mentorship and capacity building.
She disclosed that the second edition attracted over 500 applications, from which 10 finalists were selected after a rigorous screening process to participate in an intensive 10-week accelerator programme before competing at the Pitch Night.
Oronti explained that although the initial grand prize was set at ₦5 million, the Foundation increased it to ₦10 million to further empower the eventual winner to expand operations and create greater impact.
“What we’re trying to do is to give them grants to help them scale their businesses. If they are given this chance, we know they are going to help their communities and also take their businesses to the next level. That’s exactly what we call ScaleUp,” she said.
She noted that the Foundation remains committed to monitoring beneficiaries even after disbursing grants to ensure the funds are utilised for their intended purpose and translated into measurable business growth.
According to her, a winner from the maiden edition has since expanded operations by opening an office and employing more staff, demonstrating the long-term impact of the programme.
“As a non-profit organisation, we don’t get anything from their businesses. What we do is go back to check how the businesses are doing and whether the grants are being used to grow them. When we saw that last year’s winner had expanded and employed more people, it reinforced why we continue this initiative,” she said.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Oronti said the Foundation also supports education and community development through undergraduate scholarships and social intervention projects across the country.
She explained that the Foundation awards scholarships to high-performing students and has implemented projects across Nigeria’s 36 states, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights, construction of boardwalks, hospital rehabilitation and stadium renovation projects.
She encouraged all participants to maximise the lessons gained during the accelerator programme, noting that the knowledge acquired over the 10 weeks would remain valuable regardless of the competition’s outcome.
“They’ve learnt business management, financial planning, scaling strategies and other critical aspects of running a successful business. I encourage them to apply everything they’ve learnt because it will help them grow their businesses and give back to their communities,” she added.
In her remarks, Senior Marketing Manager at Bet9ja, Jennifer Olatunji, said the Foundation was established to extend the company’s impact beyond gaming by investing in programmes that improve lives and strengthen communities across Nigeria.
She noted that through its interventions in entrepreneurship, education and community development, the Foundation has continued to create opportunities for Nigerians while supporting economic growth.
According to her, entrepreneurship remains one of the most effective tools for tackling unemployment because growing businesses naturally create more jobs.
“People are very essential in every business. By empowering entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow, they are able to employ more people, which ultimately contributes to job creation across Nigeria,” she said.
Olatunji added that the Foundation would continue expanding its interventions nationwide, insisting that the organisation remains committed to empowering more Nigerians through sustainable initiatives.
She advised aspiring entrepreneurs to remain prepared for opportunities by continuously improving their businesses, researching available grants and positioning themselves to attract investors.
“When opportunity meets preparedness, success prevails. There are organisations and foundations willing to support entrepreneurs, but they must be ready when those opportunities come,” she said.
At the end of the competition, Schooled Afrika, founded by Bukola Aleriwa, emerged overall winner and received the ₦10 million grand prize, while BUZZA, founded by Taofeeq Lawal, finished as first runner-up and Digitaley Drive, founded by Ruby Ihekweme, emerged second runner-up. Altogether, the Foundation disbursed ₦40 million to support the participating businesses as they continue their entrepreneurial journeys.
The finalists represented diverse sectors, including education technology, health technology, financial technology, sports technology, artificial intelligence, legal technology and cross-border trade, highlighting the programme’s focus on supporting innovative businesses capable of driving economic growth and solving real-world challenges.
The event also featured a panel of judges comprising industry leaders from the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), Lagos Angel Network, Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, Bet9ja and Axxela, while entrepreneur Gabriel Tosh, founder of Gabriel Tosh Luxury, urged the finalists to remain resilient and build businesses capable of transforming industries and creating employment opportunities.