JA Mini Company Program 2025 in Nigeria

Their idea stood out not only for its technical ingenuity, but also for the strength of its execution and leadership, earning Plantura the following recognitions:

• Girls Lead Award
• Best Facilitator Award
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization Rising Leader Award
• First Bank CEO Entrepreneurship Award
• 1st Runner-Up – JA Africa Company of the Year 2025

The Bank’s partnership in this project extended beyond financial support - our colleagues also dedicated their time and expertise as judges and mentors.

Having returned home with medals, Yezhilly Gopaulen, Lashna Gungabissoon, Dhristi Gooroochurn, and Ameydee Chocken reflected on the experience: “ We experienced an adventure we will never forget. At first, we didn’t think this program would help us soar so high, but day by day, step by step, we grew, learned, sometimes fell, and then rose even stronger, surpassing our own limits.”

The journey has also strengthened their determination to go even further: “ This milestone motivates us to push even further, to keep innovating, and to continue striving for excellence. This is just the beginning of Plantura’s story.”

To recall, the JA Mini Company Program aims to make students learn business by doing business. It challenges them to solve a problem in their community through a business venture and unleashes their entrepreneurial spirit by giving them the experience of running their own enterprise. The program was implemented in Mauritius since 2011 and has so far impacted more than 2,900 students of Grade 12. Through this hands-on program, students aged 15 to 19, learn how to start and run their own businesses, develop, and market a product or service under the guidance of a mentor.