| Ehigiamusoe, LAPO Boss Wins Africa Social Entrepreneurship 2010 Award |
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Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, the Founder and Executive Director of Lift Above Poverty Organization, (LAPO), a leading microfinance institution in Nigeria has emerged winner of the prestigious Social Entrepreneurship 2010 Award for Africa.
Mr. Ehigiamusoe received the award recently from President Jakaya M. Kikwete of Tanzania at the just concluded World Economic Forum on Africa held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The award is presented annually to social entrepreneurs across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, India and South-East Asia, who have distinguished themselves in their social businesses or organizations through the adoption of innovative practices, leading to the achievement of large scale, systemic and sustainable social impact, according to Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, an affiliate organization of the World Economic Forum.
The Schwab Foundation recognizes Social entrepreneurs as persons who emphasize long-term sustainability instead of short-term gains in their endeavours. The primary focus of Social entrepreneurs is to maximize benefits for society and the environment by implementing innovative approaches to key challenges. They operate social businesses or organizations that are a mixture of non-profits and for-profits in areas such as energy efficiency, education, waste management, health, education, youth and rural development.
The Foundation said the World Economic Forum recognizes Ehigiamusoe as a Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 in Africa, for delivering sound financial and social services to alleviate poverty and empower the disadvantaged.
It paid glowing tributes to the LAPO boss for financing enterprise development in diverse areas such as food processing, craftworks, merchandising, fabrication and farming, through LAPO microfinance, Micro Investment Support Services (MISS), LAPO Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (LARDI), LAPO Microfinance Company Ltd., Sierra Leone, LAPO Capital Ltd. and Lift Microfinance Bank Ltd.
The Schwab Foundation said LAPO tackles the various causes and manifestations of poverty such as material deprivation, poor health, social exclusion and injustice, through the social and health empowerment programmes of LAPO Development Foundation, which addresses issues in nutrition, health, discrimination, injustice and gender imbalance.
Mr. Ehigiamusoe expressed delight at the award, adding that it would further strengthen his zeal, resolve and commitment to poverty reduction in Africa.
The other four winners of the award are Shona Mc Donald, founder of Shonaquip in South Africa, Brien Holden and Kovin Naidoo of International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), South Africa and Australia and Victoria Kisyombe of Sero Lease and Finance Association (SELFINA) in Tanzania.
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