Racheal Bassey Wins National Pitch, Earns Spot at the Presidency

On Tuesday, 12th August 2025, Racheal Bassey had the privilege of pitching Cally Green Hive Eco Paving and Interlocking Bricks at the Youth Opportunity Summit 2025, an event that brought together over 1,500 vibrant youths at the University of Calabar International Conference Centre.

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The summit, themed “Leveraging Opportunities : Building Future-Ready Youths”, was powered by the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Office of the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement, and Impact) in partnership with Inspire for Impact Initiative.

The Indigenous Language Business Pitching Contest was supported by the Office of the SA to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs (OVP), Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson.

Now here’s the twist…
I submitted my application just 15 minutes before the deadline. Out of over 90 applicants, I made it to the top 15, pitched at the semifinals, advanced to the top 7, and proudly secured third place, winning a ₦200,000 cash prize.

But this win meant more than the award. I gained the opportunity to showcase our innovation on a national platform. Our work will now be featured at the Presidency—marking the beginning of my “Calabar to the World” dream.

By simply showing up, I walked away with recognition, collaboration offers, and project opportunities that will amplify our impact far beyond what I imagined. And in one of the most humbling moments of my journey, I was adopted and inducted as a mentee and daughter to Alhajia Liman Hauwa, the Technical Adviser to the Vice President of Nigeria—an opportunity and privilege I will forever cherish.

That Tuesday reminded me of one truth:
You don’t have to be fully ready. You just have to show up.
Sometimes, the doors you’ve been dreaming of will open in the very room you almost didn’t enter.

©️ Racheal Bassey
SA Climate Change & Green Economy,
Office of Chairman,
Calabar Municipality.

Calabar Municipal Diaspora Focal Point,
Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM).

Secretary,
Local Government Diaspora Focal Point (LGDFP) Committee,
CRIDCOM

Founder/ Director,
Cally Green Hive.