Refining innovation is one thing, recognizing the kind that lasts is another. That’s the philosophy behind the Council for Business Innovation and Excellence (CBIE), one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for surfacing credible, scalable business ideas. Each year, CBIE brings together a rare blend of entrepreneurs, corporate operators, and innovation leaders to evaluate ventures not just for novelty, but for their readiness to thrive in real economies.
The judging panel is a cornerstone of this credibility. Judges are selected for their experience across sectors, their strategic mindset, and their track record of translating insight into results. This year’s panel includes seasoned names from finance, product innovation, operations, logistics and enterprise strategy; including Olajumoke Aroyewun, Khadijat Alade, Stella Eshett, Jumoke Raji-Ayoola and Ayuk Tarbhey; all brings a wealth of business acumen.
With a deep background in supply chain optimization for SMEs, she brings a no-nonsense lens to CBIE’s evaluation process. Her career has been shaped by building systems that work under pressure, especially in emerging markets where infrastructure gaps and resource constraints demand more than theory. Her presence on the panel adds operational weight to discussions that go beyond ‘good ideas’ to assess business logic, sustainability, and long-term fit.
The judging criteria remain comprehensive and unyielding:
- Innovation: Does the solution offer a fresh approach, or simply repackage the familiar?
- Practical Execution: Is there evidence of actual traction, customer feedback, early wins, or working pilots?
- Scalability: Can the business survive beyond a single market or founder dependency?
- Market Relevance: Is this a real need, not just a compelling narrative?
- Strategic Communication: How clearly and convincingly can the founder present the case?
Before the event, all judges are briefed with an aligned rubric to ensure evaluations are not based on opinion, but on criteria that reflect real-world potential. It’s not about rewarding who talks best, it’s about identifying who builds smart, solves real problems, and has the capacity to grow.
Her feedback style is pragmatic and precise, challenging founders to defend assumptions, tighten processes, and focus on outcomes that matter. Her judging isn’t just evaluation; it’s mentorship in motion.
Through individuals like her, CBIE continues to stand out not as a stage for showmanship, but as a proving ground for excellence. It builds legacy by rewarding structure, not spectacle, and by making sure that tomorrow’s enterprise leaders have been tested not just by markets, but by minds that know what it takes to last.
