Welcome, Ireayo Oladunjoye to the Endeavor Network! — By Tosin Faniro-Dada

Monday, 6 February 2023, was my last day as Managing Director & CEO of Endeavor Nigeria. This has been the most incredible journey of personal and professional growth since I joined the team two years ago. I’m delighted that I had the opportunity to be a part of this high-impact team driving the mission of high-impact entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Coincidentally, this month marks the 5th anniversary of Endeavor’s operations in Nigeria, and I couldn’t be more excited and prouder about the growth of the network so far.

In my two years as Managing Director of Endeavor Nigeria, we selected eighteen Endeavor Entrepreneurs leading seven companies (including a second company) — Kachi Izukanne, Ruke Awaritefe and Michael Ukpong (TradeDepot), Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike (Moniepoint — Formerly TeamApt), Goke Olubisi, Tito Ovia and Dimeji Sofowora (Helium Health), Adetayo Bamiduro, Chinedu Azodoh, and Guy-Bertrand Njoya (Metro Africa Xpress), Michael Moreland, Justin Lorenzon, and Peter Bunor (Field Intelligence), and, Somto Ifezue, Odunayo Eweniyi, and Joshua Chibueze (PiggyVest) as Endeavor Entrepreneurs. Thank you for believing in the magic of Endeavor.

We also onboarded thirteen mentors — Ade Bajomo (Former Executive Director, Access Bank Plc), Adepeju Adebajo (Chief Executive Officer, Lumos Nigeria), Akin Banuso (Enterprise Commercial Lead for the Middle East and Africa Multimarket region, Microsoft Nigeria), Aminu Umar-Sadiq (Managing Director, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority), Eloho Omame (Partner, TLcom and Co-Founder, FirstCheck Africa), Karl Toriola (Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria), Oyeyimika Adeboye (Managing Director, Mondelēz International — West Africa), Seni Adetu (Former MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc), Welela Dawit (Chief Financial Officer, Microsoft), ‘yemisi Ayeni (Chairperson, NASCON Allied Industries), Kelechi Ohiri (Chief Executive Officer, Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation), Muyi Aina (Principal, Solina Group), and Oluwole Oyeniran (Partner, Enterprise Technology & Performance, Consulting, West Africa at Deloitte & Touche). Thank you for your commitment and dedication to supporting Endeavor Entrepreneurs.

As we began to ease back into physical interactions, we hosted social, intimate and broader network events and conferences, the highlight being able to host a physical edition of Catalysing Conversations, our annual scaleup entrepreneurship forum, after two years of hosting it virtually. We established strategic partnerships, launched our Scaleup program and released a report in partnership with McKinsey & Company laying out the case for investing growth capital in technology-enabled businesses operating in Africa, titled — The Inflection Point. Our work was featured in Rest of World, Techcrunch, CGTN, Quartz Africa, Business Insider Africa, and AriseTV, Guardian, among numerous other press.

I’d like to especially thank the Endeavor Nigeria Entrepreneurs I met when I joined the network who welcomed me, opened up to me and made it easy for us to support them — Ekechi Nwokah (Migo), Tayo Oviosu and Jay Alabraba (Paga), Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele (Kobo 360), Abasi Ene-Obong (54gene), Bukky George (HealthPlus), Moses Babatope and Kene Okwuosa (FilmHouse & FilmOne), Gbenga Agboola and Ife Orioke (Flutterwave), Chijioke Dozie and Ngozi Dozie (Carbon), Jasper Graf von Hardenberg and Christian Wessels (Daystar Power), and Etop Ikpe (Autocheck). Thank you for believing in Endeavor’s mission of supporting high-impact entrepreneurs as you scale your companies and multiply your impact.

Mentorship is the core of our service delivery at Endeavor, and our unrivalled mentor network is eager to provide bespoke mentorship to our entrepreneurs. I’d like to thank the mentors who have been instrumental to the development of the Endeavor Nigeria mentor network and committed to the success of Endeavor Entrepreneurs — Abubakar Suleiman (CEO, Sterling Bank), Acha Leke (Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company), Adebisi Lamikanra (Partner & Head of Advisory (Rtd.), KPMG), Akintunde Oyebode (Commissioner of Finance & Economic Development, Ekiti State Government), Anders Einarsson (CEO, Promasidor), Chidi Iwuchukwu (Head Investment Banking-West Africa, RMB), Dimeji Salaudeen (Partner & Head, Deal Advisory, KPMG), Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin (Partner, McKinsey & Company), Farouk Gumel (Group Executive, TGI), Fola Laoye (Co-Founder & CEO, Iwosan Investments Limited), Ini Ebong (Group Executive, Treasury and Financial Institutions, First Bank Nigeria), Kayode Akinkugbe (MD & CEO, FBN Quest), Prof. Konyin Ajayi (SAN) (Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP), Dr. Omobola Johnson (Partner, TLcom Capital), Sean Hsu (Group President & CEO, Netcom Africa), Stephane Timpano (Managing Partner, Bain & Company), Temitope Odukoya (Partner, Deloitte), Toluwaleke Adenmosun (Partner, Verraki), Yemi Osindero (Partner, Uhuru Investments Partners), Yinka Edu (Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie), and Yinka Sanni (Chief Executive, Africa regions, Standard Bank Group).

Globally, I have been thrilled to have witnessed the growth of the Endeavor network with new offices in Romania, Canada, Pakistan, and Poland, making Endeavor present in 41 markets and providing a global support system for high-growth founders. Endeavor now supports over 2,388 entrepreneurs leading 1,477+ companies in 41 markets around the world. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have had a significant track record of impact, created more than 3.4 million jobs, generated combined revenues of over $28B throughout 2021, and built sustainable growth models in their home countries. This is magical, and it’s all thanks to Linda Rottenberg’s 25 years of vision of transforming economies, one entrepreneur at a time.

I would also like to thank Linda Rottenberg (Co-Founder and CEO, Endeavor), Adrian Garcia-Aranyos, (President, Endeavor), and all the local offices, MDs and the worldwide Endeavor team. You are all rock stars!

I am excited to be handing the wheel to Ireayomide Oladunjoye, who, until recently, was Head, Startups at Lagos Innovates, where she was responsible for developing and implementing Government led programs aimed at supporting an enabling environment for Tech Startups and Innovation Driven Enterprises to thrive in Lagos State.

I met Ireayomide four years ago when we worked together at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. I am certain she is the Managing Director Endeavor Nigeria needs in this next phase. As CEO, Ireayomide will also take over my board seat as an Executive Director. She starts her new role today, 6 February 2023, and I wish her every success.

I’m grateful to the Board of Endeavor Nigeria, under the leadership of Atedo N.A. Peterside (CON), for their support, and I look forward to Endeavor Nigeria’s continued success!

Last, and certainly not least, I am especially proud of the Endeavor Nigeria team: Joy Enechukwu, Mide Alonge, Mofi Olawumi, Leye Agunbiade, Joy Mabia, Ezinne Okoro, and Teniola Tijani. These wonderful, ambitious young people are committed to the future of high-impact entrepreneurship in Nigeria, and I am excited for all Ireayomide will achieve with their help.

Thank you for being part of Endeavor!

With my very best,

Tosin Faniro-Dada