PremiumTrust Bank Awards N50 Million in Grants to 13 Entrepreneurs

PremiumTrust Bank, a leading Nigerian lender, partnered with the Hallelujah Challenge Corporate Social Responsibility team to award 13 entrepreneurs and small business owners a total of N50 million in business grants.

The ceremony was held at the Hallelujah Challenge Centre in Lagos, underscoring the bank’s commitment to improving lives and strengthening community economies across Nigeria.

Beyond a financial gesture, the initiative signals the bank’s belief that small businesses drive Nigeria’s economy and that investing in their owners is investing in the nation’s future.

The collaboration aligns with the bank’s goal of enriching lives and strengthening communities through targeted initiatives. The Hallelujah Challenge, known for combining faith and community, has previously funded school fees, hospital bills, and humanitarian programmes.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, CON, FCIB, said the bank deliberately seeks strategic partnerships and has worked with the Hallelujah Challenge before.

“We believe that it is a platform where lives are impacted and dreams are birthed. As a Bank, we felt it was compelling to associate with the initiative in partnership with Hallelujah Challenge,” he said.

He added that the bank also provided structured business training to the 13 recipients, equipping them with tools to scale sustainably.

“Apart from the business grants given to the winners, we have also trained them adequately to give them a sense of how to deploy their resources in upscaling their businesses. This will also help them to be more focused and more intentional whilst we support them all the way,” he said.

Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, convener and founder of the Hallelujah Challenge, thanked the bank, noting the partnership elevates the NGO’s vision to new heights.

He explained that the Hallelujah Challenge has always aimed to go beyond singing and praising God, to genuinely touch lives and create positive impacts in the real world. He acknowledged PremiumTrust Bank’s full support in bringing that goal to life, stating that with this partnership, more lives will be touched and more communities will be positively impacted.

The 13 beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous and unbiased process, following an online business pitch that attracted entries from millions of Nigerians. The final selection was made without bias or prejudice, ensuring equal opportunity for all participants.

Inya Michael Irem, a poultry farmer, emerged as the overall winner and received a grant of N5,000,000. The first runners‑up, Samuel Sunday Oton, Yaya Olayinka Precious, Mirriam Bwalya, and Lois Mazi, each received N2,500,000. The remaining eight beneficiaries—Nomuoja Edesiri, Omolola Subair, Samson Aderibigbe Adewale, Numa Satu Jakitay, Favour Christopher Uchechi, Adeboye Oluwapelumi Adepeju, Gbenga Mike Olaosebikan, and Ilesanmi Oluwafunke Deborah—each received N1,000,000.

The winners expressed deep gratitude to PremiumTrust Bank, noting that the grants would serve as a turning point not only for their businesses but also for their communities.

PremiumTrust Bank is a leading Nigerian financial institution dedicated to delivering exceptional banking services while making a positive, measurable difference in the communities it serves. Its CSR efforts span healthcare, education, and community development, grounded in the bank’s core values of empathy, inclusivity, and national progress. Most recently, the bank carried out a comprehensive healthcare intervention at Massey Street Children’s Hospital in Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to impactful community‑centred action.