Grant Master’s Grant Success School Unveils Pitch Contest Winners

Grant Success School (GSS), the flagship training program of Grant Master, has announced the winners of its inaugural and second cohort pitch contests. These outstanding entrepreneurs and change-makers have secured significant funding and support, furthering their mission to drive social and economic impact across Africa.

Grant Success School is a grant writing training program and challenge designed for small business owners, startup founders, NGO leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to secure grant funding. The initiative aims to transform grant writing in Nigeria while providing an opportunity to redefine the country’s entrepreneurial and non-profit sectors.

Grant Master launched Grant Success School to democratize access to grant writing expertise and invest in the future of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial and social impact ecosystem. The program transforms complete beginners into skilled grant writers through its proven methodology.

Grant Success School represents Grant Master’s commitment to equipping African entrepreneurs and non-profits with the skills and confidence to secure the funding they need, said Olugbenga Ogunbowale, Co-founder/CEO of Grant Master and lead instructor at GSS. The winners from the inaugural and second cohort exemplify the power of purpose-driven leadership, and we are proud to support them in their journeys.

Olamide Atoyebi, co-founder of GoEco Energy, emerged as the grand prize winner of the inaugural cohort, securing ₦1 million to advance sustainable clean energy solutions. Other top winners include Foza Fawehinmi, a creative economy lawyer supporting African creatives, and Monisola Aiyekusehin, founder of Betharbel Free Elementary School for IDPs.

The stakes were higher for Cohort 2, with Ezinne Nwodo taking home a ₦3.2 million grand prize package. Amarachi Ogbu, an education and tech innovation specialist, was the first runner-up, while Victoria Oladipo, founder of Learn Politics, democratizing political education in Nigeria, emerged as the second runner-up. Aside from the cash prize, winners from the second cohort received mentoring from industry leaders, access to high-value networking events, and priority grant proposal reviews. The second cohort also marked the launch of Grant Master’s “Change Agents to Watch” series, spotlighting the next generation of impact leaders.

These exceptional leaders exemplify the transformative power of combining purpose with skill, says Olugbenga Ogunbowale, CEO of Grant Master. Through Grant Success School, they’ve not only mastered grant writing but have positioned themselves to create lasting impact in their communities.

Since its inception, Grant Success School has helped its students and clients secure over $30 million in grants, leveraging its world-class instructors, practical applications, and comprehensive 4-week curriculum, which covers essential grant writing skills, from understanding funding landscapes to mastering proposal development and interview techniques.