The much awaited business reality TV series, The Entrepreneur sponsored by Ecobank, Vitamalt and Visafone hit TV screens across the country last weekend. The programme started with the first episode of the 13 weeks series showcasing the journey of entrepreneurial pursuit by thousands of Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs who have registered to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the programme.

Candidates came from all across the country to get auditioned after been shortlisted in Kano, Aba and finally Lagos. They came regardless of gender, ethnic and culture to face the audition judges. The judges were Femi Omonehin (Kano, Aba & Lagos), Ekemelu Nnoli (Aba & Lagos), Cecile Agwu (Kano), all from Growing Businesses Foundation,  Hajia Ladi Wali (Kano) from SMEDAN, Linda Dimgba (Aba) and Joyce Ajoku (Lagos).

After auditions, 12 people qualified from Kano, 27 from Aba and 25 from Lagos. All the 64 micro-entrepreneurs will face 16 Judges across 12 weeks with 3 judges on each panel weekly. The judges will Judge their ideas for creativity, innovation and vision while also scrutinizing the micro-entrepreneurs idea for content and relevance.

The audience was taken on a studio tour and given a dose of what to expect in the coming weeks. The Entrepreneur TV Series is designed as a platform to invest in innovative social enterprises that will help achieve a positive social impact, alleviating poverty and empowering micro entrepreneurs.

To the sponsors, Ecobank, Visafone and Vitamalt, the program is unique in several ways as it gives Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs the freedom to own their ideas, by allowing them access to required cash without interference on how they run it, as well as recognizing the need to further empower the Nigerian entrepreneur whom the world has acknowledged as being innovative but lacking the required funding to start up their businesses.

Each coming episode, N1m is up for grabs at the discretion of the panel of Judges which boast of highly tested individuals like Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Mrs. Bunmi Lawson, Dr. Ebenezer Meshida, Dr. Doyin Abiola, Engr. Kayode Adejuyigbe, Alli Baba, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Mr. Frank Nneji, Mrs. Ify Ighodalo, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi, Gbenga Badejo, Tony Ajero, Chief Dele Momodu, Mr. Gregory Enahoro, Rita Eze and Mrs. Modupe Adelaja.

Other partners of the TV series include Growing Business Foundation, Financial Standard Newspaper and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.