The Mary Ojulary Foundation has announced that its financial support for young Nigerian entrepreneurs has now reached $180,000, disbursed in two phases under its mission to strengthen small businesses across the country.
Speaking at the award ceremony for the second cohort of the Vanguard Fellowship Initiative in Lagos, Founder Mary Ojulary said the foundation was created to provide long-term opportunities for children, youths, and women seeking educational or business support.
Ojulary explained that she had supported students through various levels of education for more than a decade, but many continued to seek additional assistance. This, she said, pushed her to think beyond scholarships.
Her turning point came during the 2023 elections while engaging young people on civic participation.
“In the process of engaging the youth, I met many 18 to 35-year-olds with strong entrepreneurial ideas but no mentorship,” she said. “That inspired me to build a platform focused on enterprise development, coaching, education, and mentorship.”
The foundation currently operates two major programmes:
• Aspire Scholarship, which has supported 25 children
• Vanguard Fellowship Initiative, its flagship entrepreneurship scheme
The $180,000 disbursed so far covers only the Vanguard Fellowship Initiative.
The programme includes the Ignite Bootcamp, where selected applicants undergo intensive training before receiving funding. According to Ojulary, thousands applied for the first cohort, but only 50 were selected due to limited funds.
At the award ceremony for that cohort, 21 entrepreneurs received $5,000 each. An additional donor later supported four more entrepreneurs, bringing the total to 25 beneficiaries and $125,000.
“For this second cohort, we had funding for eight people,” she said. “In the first cohort in April 2025, we awarded $125,000 to 25 entrepreneurs. In this cohort, we have given out ₦50 million to eight entrepreneurs. Altogether, that’s about $180,000.”
During the event, Lagos lawmaker Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency, praised Ojulary’s dedication and assured that the government would continue supporting her efforts. He also urged the fellows to submit policy papers, promising to present strong proposals to the House of Assembly.
ICYMI
The ceremony highlighted the foundation’s growing role in fostering entrepreneurship, mentoring young innovators, and expanding opportunities for small businesses across Nigeria.
