International Breweries Plc has announced the upcoming Kickstart 2025 Awards Ceremony after the successful completion of the bootcamp training for over 400 young entrepreneurs.
In a statement on Tuesday, IB, which is part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, said that the 2025 programme marked a decade of the company nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of business leaders.
The upcoming ceremony, themed ‘Sustain. Scale. Succeed: Building the Future of Nigerian Entrepreneurs’, will mark the culmination of this year’s Kickstart journey, which has already seen 476 shortlisted applicants participate in an intensive online training facilitated by the Enterprise Development Centre, covering vital business courses such as customer service, marketing management, selling skills, financial management, leadership essentials, operations management, and business planning.
The programme also ensured inclusivity by accommodating People with Disabilities among the participants, underscoring Kickstart’s commitment to equal opportunity and inclusive innovation.
From this pool, 124 of the most promising entrepreneurs advanced to the hybrid bootcamp training, which featured both in-person and virtual sessions across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Rivers and Anambra. The immersive training further deepened participants’ expertise in business model innovation, financial management, digital marketing, sustainability practices, and pitch preparation.
The bootcamp culminated in the PitchFest, where participants presented their business ideas to a panel of seasoned judges, an inspiring showcase of creativity and enterprise that now sets the stage for the grand finale at the Kickstart 2025 Awards Ceremony.
The Awards Ceremony, slated for 17 November 2025, will crown this year’s journey by recognising the most outstanding entrepreneurs, emerging innovators and enterprise builders who distinguished themselves during the PitchFest, granting them business funding to either launch or scale their ventures.
Reflecting on the journey, the Managing Director of International Breweries Plc, Carlos Coutiño, expressed confidence in the power of entrepreneurship to redefine Nigeria’s economic story.
He said, “The Kickstart journey continues to demonstrate that our youth are the catalysts of inclusive growth. The 10th anniversary Awards Ceremony is not just a celebration of winners; it’s a celebration of resilience, innovation, and the spirit of Nigerian enterprise. Through Kickstart, we are investing in the future: a future where young people sustain their dreams, scale their impact, and ultimately succeed.”
Similarly, Chairman of the Advisory Board of International Breweries Foundation, Dr Peter Bamkole, described this year’s theme as a summation of the programme’s legacy and its forward-looking vision.
“For ten years, Kickstart has proven that when we sustain a vision, scale opportunities, and empower entrepreneurs to succeed, we build more than businesses; we build the future of our nation. The energy and creativity displayed at this year’s bootcamp reaffirmed our belief that Nigeria’s economic transformation lies in the hands of its young entrepreneurs who are willing to innovate and lead responsibly,” Bamkole said.
Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director at International Breweries Plc, Temitope Oguntokun, highlighted the programme’s unique model that provides long-term support beyond grants.
“What truly distinguishes Kickstart is its holistic approach. We don’t just train or fund entrepreneurs; we walk with them on their journey. Through the Kickstart-appointed mentors and Alumni Network, beneficiaries continue to access mentorship, business development resources, and peer learning opportunities,” Oguntokun enthused. “This end-to-end ecosystem ensures that our entrepreneurs don’t just survive; they sustain, scale, and succeed.”
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the awards ceremony.
Over the past years, Kickstart has trained over 3,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, awarded N800m in grants to 470 small business owners, and created around a thousand direct and indirect jobs across more than 30 states.
The programme has supported enterprises in key sectors such as agriculture, retailing, circular packaging, technology, and renewable energy, among others, fostering innovation and resilience across Nigeria’s MSME landscape. Impressively, in an impact assessment of the initiative, 80 per cent of supported businesses remain active, underscoring Kickstart’s strong focus on sustainability and measurable impact.
