Sooyah Bistro Launches ‘Sooyah Dreams’ Initiative to Fund Young Entrepreneurs

Sooyah Bistro has taken a step beyond the kitchen into the entrepreneurial space with its new initiative, Sooyah Dreams, aimed at funding and mentoring emerging business owners across Nigeria.

Through the campaign, which ran from 1 to 15 September 2025, the company awarded over ₦500,000 in grants to young Nigerians with innovative business ideas. The project reflects the brand’s effort to translate its own story of small beginnings into a platform for nurturing new enterprises.

At the award presentation held at Sooyah Bistro’s Oniru outlet in Lagos, Victoria Orleans emerged as the overall winner, receiving ₦250,000 to expand her poultry venture and a charity programme supporting children with special needs and limited access to education. The first runner-up, Nwokolo Blessing, a private chef focused on reimagining Nigerian cuisine, received ₦150,000, while several other participants shared consolation prizes totalling ₦100,000.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sooyah Bistro’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Olamidun Ogundoyin, said the initiative was rooted in her own entrepreneurial journey, which began with a single grill and ₦20,000. “Sooyah Dreams is more than a campaign; it’s a commitment to those who are daring enough to start small and think big,” she said. “Every thriving business begins with courage, and our role is to fuel that courage through funding, mentorship, and community.”

Ogundoyin explained that the programme would become an annual feature of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts, with plans to invest millions of naira in youth enterprise development. She emphasised that empowering small business owners not only strengthens local economies but also creates pathways for innovation and employment.

Participants at the event shared stories of persistence and creativity, with several describing the competition as a source of renewed motivation to pursue their goals. For many, the platform offered not just financial aid but also exposure and a sense of belonging within a growing community of young entrepreneurs.

The Sooyah Dreams initiative, according to the organisers, aligns with Sooyah Bistro’s broader philosophy of blending commerce with community impact. The company, which has expanded from a modest street food outlet into a recognised national brand, said it intends to continue leveraging its success to inspire Nigerians who aspire to build sustainable ventures.

The event concluded with a renewed pledge by Sooyah Bistro to remain an active contributor to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development across the country.