Akwa Ibom entrepreneur wins MSMEs’ awards

By UbongAbasi Okon

An entrepreneur based in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Joshua Joseph, was the winner in the BOA Award of Excellence in Agriculture category at the Third Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Awards in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Laolu Akande, the spokesman of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, The VP had headlined the Virtual Edition of the Annual MSMEs Awards last week and all the winners had taken delivery of their cars, cheques and award plaques a few days after the event.

Four brand new cars were won by awardees in four categories namely; MSME of the Year, Best MSME Clinics participant – Female; Best MSME Clinics participant – Male; and the Award of Excellence in Manufacturing. Winners in the other categories went home with N1 million each. The winners of the cars are:-

·       MSME of the Year – Adejoke Lasisi of Planet 3R from Oyo State

·       Best MSME in Manufacturing – Hyelni Hassan of SHEELDA Limited from the FCT

·       Best MSME Clinic participant – Female – Sa’adatu Haruna Illo, of S&M Spices from Kebbi State

·       Best MSME Clinic participant – Male – Orioye Benedict Gbayisemore of First Morey Foods from Ondo State.

But beyond the cash and car gifts, other incentives to be enjoyed by the winners and other finalists include a 3-month spotlight on their businesses aimed at boosting patronage for their products and services.

In the BOA Award of Excellence in Agriculture category, JOSULT Oil Processing Company (JOPC), an oil palm processing business run by Mr Joshua Joseph and based in Akwa Ibom State was the winner. Products of the company are sold in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and FCT.