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, Zainab Kareem, Linda Okon and Raymond Efa: all brings a wealth of business acumen.
With a deep understanding of entrepreneurship, judges contribute perspectives grounded in operational reality, especially for businesses operating in high-pressure, resource-constrained environments. Their collective experience strengthens CBIE’s mission to assess ventures not just on the strength of ideas, but on the viability of execution, sustainability, and real-world adaptability.
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.
Participants receive candid, actionable insights that go beyond surface-level praise or critique. The process emphasizes clarity, logic, and outcome-driven thinking, challenging ventures to evolve beyond inspiration into real execution.
Through individuals, 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.
