Update on Catalysing   Conversations 2020

We witnessed, with shock and horror, the news reports and social media accounts of shootings of peaceful protesters over the last 24 hours. Lives have been lost and several young Nigerians are seriously injured. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and friends. Endeavor Nigeria is morally and unequivocally opposed to any acts of vandalism, violence, brutality and murder.

 

In light of this, we are postponing Catalysing Conversations, Endeavor Nigeria’s annual scaleup entrepreneurship summit, scheduled to take place on Friday, October 23. Thank you to all our partners and registered attendees for your support, and for your patience while we communicate a new date, later in the year.

 

As an organisation that is committed to supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nigeria, and ultimately, to the emergence of Nigeria's next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs, the scenes are especially hard to witness.

 

Our primary community, the tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, has rallied against the issue of police harassment and brutality for a while. We are also keenly aware that in the long-term, there can be no meaningful high-impact entrepreneurship unless young people feel valued, safe, and committed to building the innovative companies of Nigeria’s future.

 

Endeavor Nigeria will be donating $5,000 (approximately N2.3 million) to support medical expenses and funeral costs for victims of last night’s violence.

 

Eloho Omame
Managing Director, Endeavor Nigeria
21 October 2020