Nsaata Africa wins €20,000 Cointreau Creative Crew grant on exciting business plan

In April 2016, Cointreau launched the Cointreau Creative Crew philanthropic programme geared towards promoting creative freedom and expression and encouraging individuals to work towards their dreams, extending it into a tangible creative reality. The programme provided an small business an opportunity to earn a grant of €20,000 to support its creative project.

The grant was later launched in August 2016, where hundreds of applications were received and nineteen businesses were selected by the Cointreau Creative Crew members during the eight-week application period. During the public voting phase, ten finalists were selected.

The finale event of the Cointreau Creative Crew programme was held on Sunday 22nd January.  Finalists were all given the opportunity pitch their business ideas, and after much deliberation by the Cointreau Creative Crew, Nsaata Africa emerged the winner of the grant, by impressing the jury with a solid and well-presented business plan.

Nsaata Africa is a shoemaking business, providing men, women and children in Africa and beyond handmade footwear at affordable prices. Sourcing materials from Ghana, Kenya and Cameroun, the business was born out of the need to help individuals who cannot find their shoe sizes in retail shops. The majority of people with these problems include men and women with big feet and really long toes.

Nsaata Africa utilises local artisans and resources to construct the perfect pair of shoes for its clients, thereby promoting the sustainable development of local communities and the nation at large. Culture and heritage are a huge part of Nsaata Africa, and it aims to incorporate this into every one of its products, whether it is by utilising African fabrics beads and craftwork in its designs or African names for its product codes.

The Cointreau Creative Crew remains committed to inspire, encourage and support young men and women advance in their chosen career fields through their willingness to create and explore new avenues of self-expression.

The Cointreau Creative Crew 2016 consisted of Betty Irabor (Founder & Publisher of Genevieve Magazine and the Creative Curator of the CCC), Lami Tumaka (Director, NIMASA), Barbara Lawrence (CEO of Insolitus Nigeria Ltd), Ituen Bassey (Founder and CEO of ‘Ituen Basi), Neku Atawodi (Founder of equity crowdfunding platform, Malaik), Afua Osei (Co-founder of She Leads Africa), Denrele Sonariwo (Director of Rele), Eku Edewor (Established television presenter and a co-host on Studio 53 Extra) and Yagazie Emezi (Multi-disciplinary artist, photographer and Vlogger).

OBINNA EMELIKE