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Jacinta Uramah-Eze is the founder of Afri Concepts Inspire, a Winnipeg-based organization that helps Black and African entrepreneurs in Manitoba grow their businesses.<\/p>\n
Today, the company is holding its first business summit at Riverview Community Centre (90 Ashland Ave.). <\/p>\n
It will bring Black and immigrant small-business owners and entrepreneurs together for a day of professional development and networking.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Business Minister Jamie Moses will give a keynote presentation, and a panel of four speakers in various stages of their careers are scheduled to address navigating business growth.<\/p>\n
The event will include pitches from business owners and a vendor showcase where attendees can browse products and services from local entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
Uramah-Eze said she hopes attendees walk away from the event having made a meaningful connection with someone in the business community or having learned something they can apply to their business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in this space and we need each other so we can keep growing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Uramah-Eze holds a master of business administration from Business School Netherlands and worked in food security prior to moving to Winnipeg eight years ago.<\/p>\n
She started Afri Inspire Concepts after struggling as an entrepreneur herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to help entrepreneurs access knowledge, networks, opportunities and the kind of support that they need to build thriving businesses here in Manitoba,\u201d Uramah-Eze said.<\/p>\n
Rachael Ajibike is looking forward to learning from others at the summit and sharing some of the things she\u2019s learned during her short time as entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old, who last year launched a public relations and digital marketing firm called Sixty Two Summers, is participating in the panel discussion.<\/p>\n
Black and immigrant entrepreneurs often face barriers to visibility, mentorship, networks and opportunities, Ajibike said. \u201cWe have to put in the work to bridge that gap.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Like Uramah-Eze, Ajibike was born and raised in Lagos. She moved to Winnipeg four years ago, and although Sixty Two Summers is in its infancy, she has grand ambitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be the best PR company, the best communications business, in Canada \u2014 not just Manitoba,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have big plans.\u201d<\/p>\n
The business summit starts at 10 a.m. and runs for four hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would love everyone who is working in this space, who believes in the contributions of small business, to connect with us in any way that they can,\u201d Uramah-Eze said.<\/p>\n
aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Aaron Epp Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Reporter
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