Lagos, Nigeria – Three groundbreaking Nigerian businesses have emerged winners of the 2025 Cascador Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Prize for Innovation, receiving $15,000 each for their scalable solutions in agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy.
The Winning Ventures
PromisePoint
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Sector: Agri-tech
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Achievement: Trained 10,000+ smallholder farmers (70% women)
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Milestone: Secured ₦1 billion contract with Nestlé Nigeria
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Founder Quote: “This validates rural women as drivers of food security” – Bukola Joy Farinde
FriendnPal
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Sector: Mental Health Tech
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Innovation: AI-powered multilingual therapy platform
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Impact: Affordable care for underserved Africans
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Founder Quote: “Built for people like my mother who deserve dignified care” – Esther Eruchie
D-Olivette
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Sector: Clean Energy
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Solution: AI biodigesters converting farm waste to energy/fertilizer
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Vision: Tackling Nigeria’s dual waste and energy crises
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CEO Quote: “Waste is Nigeria’s untapped energy goldmine” – Tunde Adeyemi
Why This Matters
The awards highlight:
Economic Inclusion: 65% of beneficiaries are women/rural dwellers
Sector Gaps Addressed: Food security, mental health access, clean energy
Investment Potential: All winners have proven revenue models and scaling plans
Selection Process
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10 finalists shortlisted from nationwide pool
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Judged on innovation, scalability and social impact
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NSIA/Cascador partnership now in 3rd year
Expert Perspectives
“These ventures prove mission-driven business can solve systemic challenges”
– Amanda Etuk, Cascador Program Director
“They’re creating jobs while delivering essential services”
– Chidi Okoro, Cascador Executive Director
Next Steps
Winners will receive:
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Additional mentorship
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Investor networking opportunities
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Technical support to scale operations
About the NSIA Prize for Innovation
A national initiative supporting high-potential ventures aligned with Nigeria’s development goals. The 2025 cycle attracted 1,200+ applications.
