And the eight-week long running BLAZE BYOB TV show came to an end yesterday with 19-year Valentine Nekesa, a part-time designer and model, being announced the winner. The last boss standing walked away with a grand prize of Sh 5 million which includes Sh 3 million in capital, and Sh 2 million in the form of mentorship, financial advice and business support.
The first runners up, Safe Joe Mugweru walked away with Sh 1,000,000 while David Kimani won Sh. 700,000 to plough into his business. Each of the remaining contestants also walks away with a cash award that will go towards helping them achieve their dreams.
BLAZE is a sub-brand of Safaricom and was created to give youth aged 26 years and below products, services and benefits tailored specifically to meet their everyday needs. The show’s main aim is to empower young people and set them on a path to be entrepreneurs by imparting them with the requisite skills and networks to enable them to earn from their passion and talent.
The selection was based on the scalability of each business idea, as well as contestants’ personality and televisual appeal.
Just like me, I know so many women felt proud of Valentine. It was a great moment to celebrate one of us proving that neither age or gender should deter anyone from stepping up to achieve their dreams.
“I am elated for this endorsement of my growth during the time I spent on the show. I have learned how to bring out my leadership skills, and these have seen me make it to the finals. BLAZE BYOB has been an eye-opener for the Kenyan youth, and the country in general; I thank my contestants for coming out and demonstrating that the country’s youth have what it takes to lead,” said Nekesa.
From communicating in a virtual world and the value of mindful leadership, to the importance of risk-taking in innovation and how to future-proof your career, the BLAZE forum provides a much-needed opportunity for so many young women and girls at every level to give their career the attention it deserves.
Valentine grew up in Kakamega after her mother passed away, which saw her move in with her aunt and her family of 13. She is a student at Mount Kenya University. With the money, she plans to buy sewing machines, rent a shop, buy quality fabric and hire employees who will be particularly talented and share her passion for fashion.
“I would like to congratulate Valentine on her win; the change in her has been inspiring to me, and I am sure, to Kenyan youth countrywide. It goes to show that age should not serve as an impediment to whatever you aspire to be. We have witnessed the 12 contestants grow and the experience they have attained will not go down the drain. The BLAZE team will step in if need be to offer guidance and support in terms of mentorship,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Director -Consumer Business, Safaricom.
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