Total Petroleum Ghana PLC is supporting three young entrepreneurs with ¢210,000 at the end of the 3rd Edition of the ‘Startupper of the Year Challenge’.

The ‘Startupper of the Year Challenge’ is an initiative of the TotalEnergies Group aimed at contributing to the development of local economic environment, promoting local roots, showing the company's commitment to local entrepreneurship and encouraging young companies to integrate environmental and societal dimensions (inclusion of women) into their business.

Speaking at the 3^rd edition of the ‘Startupper of the Year Challenge’, Managing Director of Total Petroleum Ghana PLC, Olufemi Babajide, indicated that the programme is part the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities.

“This initiative is one of our many Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).  As a responsible company, we seek to provide solutions to the challenges in our society. The Startupper of the Year by TotalEnergies Challenge is one of the various ways we support entrepreneurship and the youth within the communities we operate in.”

“Other programmes we have institutionalised include the Total Young Dealer Scheme, a system that allows Staff of Total Service Stations to progress through the ranks from pump attendants to Dealer position.  We also contribute to employment through the Total Young Graduate Programme, a career development and empowerment initiative aimed at building and equipping fresh university graduates with skills through global exposure and practical experience.”

The challenge crowned the winners in three categories; Adriana Appiagyei Nsiah Nimo of Reecoplast as Best business creation project; Mathias Charles Yabe of Akofresh as Best start-up under three years of existence and Anaporka Adazabra of Farmio as Best female entrepreneur. Aside a cash prize of ¢70,000 each, the winners get to enjoy extensive media publicity and one-year coaching from business experts to help them grow their individual businesses. 

A total of 13,885 submitted applications.

A "Share for Likes" voting phase, combined with an automated scoring system, made it possible, in a first instance, to select the 90 best applications from each country. Then, social entrepreneurship professionals evaluated these 90 applications to select only the 15 best ones. These 15 finalists presented their project during a two-day-pitch in front of a local jury.