by Isi Esene

“Rising Above the Storm of Entrepreneurship”, the theme of FATE Foundation’s Annual Celebration & Entrepreneurial Award Ceremony 2012 is scheduled to hold Thursday December 6, 2012 at Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos Island at 3pm.

The ceremony will feature an array of awards presentations to outstanding individuals to recognise their significant contribution and achievements during the year.  It will also feature a graduation ceremony for the participants of the FATE business programmes.

The programme was designed to reward distinguished entrepreneurs who have demonstrated qualities of hard work and tenacity in building successful businesses in the challenging business environment, as well as showcase them as role models. As part of the awards, the categories include: FATE Model Entrepreneur Award presented to a distinguished entrepreneur in Nigeria; FATE Alumni Model Entrepreneur Award presented to a FATE-trained entrepreneur of distinction; FATE Outstanding Volunteer Award presented to dedicated individuals, who help our entrepreneurs, and finally, FATE SME Journalist Award presented to a reporter who promotes and upholds the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Past winners of our awards include including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Group President; Mr. Tokunbo Talabi CEO, Superflux International; Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, CEO Sokao Chairs;  and Mr. John Momoh, CEO Channels Television among others.

Gracing the event as Special Guest Speaker is the co-founder/CEO of UT Bank Accra Ghana, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, adjudged the most respected CEO in Ghana for 2012.

The ceremony will be compered by Ace Comedian and businessman, Ali Baba.

According to the Executive Director, Osayi Alile Oruene, “The Annual Celebration is a time for all of us to honour the contributions of remarkable individuals in our society and our foundation. We hope that through the Annual Celebration, we will make a real difference in impacting aspiring entrepreneurs by showcasing domestic role models, and also creating awareness of what FATE Foundation is about in the last 12 years.”

The event will be attended by personalities in the country from the private and public sectors.

FATE Foundation is a private sector led not-for-profit organization created in March 2000 by Fola Adeola in response to the challenges of unemployment induced poverty prevalent in the Nigerian society.