Get Guardian on GoogleThe Aisha Ibrahim Babangida (AIB) Founders’ Award has honoured outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders and institutions for their contributions to enterprise development, innovation and economic growth in Nigeria and across Africa.
The second edition of the award, hosted by the Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA), was held on October 30, 2026, in Abuja, under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence.”
A major highlight of the event was the introduction of the AIB Next Rated Founder 2026–2027, which recognised 12 promising entrepreneurs for their potential to shape the future of enterprise development.
The initiative aimed to give emerging founders greater visibility and encouragement while recognising their innovative solutions, early business achievements, value creation, and capacity to build sustainable enterprises.
The 12 recognised founders are Hadiza Duba, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kore Matcha; Juliet Elaigwu, CEO, Attendify Tech; Fatima Babangida-Mohammed, Founder, Phoenix Polo Company; Uzoma Chidumaga Orji, Creative Director, Uzoma Studio; Joyce Jack, CEO, Kjay Visuals; and TsemayeJemide, Founder, RaRa Ramen NG.
Others are Aisha Jaleela Sambo, CEO, Curated Finds; Olofu Grace Joseph, Founder, fgcasualandmore; Amina Jibrilu, CEO, Marmari NG; Maryjane Okeke, CEO, The Bracha Company; Temilade Salami, CEO, Tuntunre; and Aisha Sambo, CEO, Shushi Official.
The awards also recognised individuals and organisations across entrepreneurship, business growth, innovation, leadership, policy and advocacy.
Madam Comfort Jummai Adesoye received the AIB Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to enterprise development, while ReelFruit Limited won the Production and Export Scale Award.
The AIB Start-up Award went to Imade Helen Bibowei-Osuobeni, CEO, Circuit TV, and Aminat Opeyemi Adebisi, CEO, PEMNIA Wellness Limited. Madam Alice Madaki received the Founder of the Year Award.
Other recipients included ColdHubs Limited, which won the SME Award for Innovation; AgroEknor Limited, Best Agritech Enterprise Award; and Madam Affiong Williams, Transformational Leadership Award.
FCMB, through its SheVentures Initiative, received the SME Bank of the Year Award, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), was named Regulatory Body of the Year.
Chief Emeka Obegolu received the SME Policy Leadership Award, while the Nigeria Revenue Service received the WenA Special Award.
The AIB Regional Excellence Award went to Madam Bertille Guedegbe Marcos, Founder and CEO of Les Fruits Tillou, in recognition of her enterprise impact beyond national borders.
The organisers said the selection process was guided by an independent Steering Committee chaired by Hajiya Zainab Jaji, with a structured judging framework designed to ensure fairness, transparency and merit.
The assessment considered measurable impact, innovation, scalability, sustainability, leadership, ecosystem influence and governance, with category-specific benchmarks applied across the award segments.
The event brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, financial institutions, development organisations and the wider enterprise ecosystem to celebrate contributions to economic growth.
WenA said the award’s ambition extends beyond a yearly ceremony, as it seeks to promote a culture that values enterprise, recognises achievement, encourages innovation and provides greater visibility for individuals and institutions shaping the future of business.
It added that the initiative recognised the importance of celebrating established business successes while identifying and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.
