Nova Excellence Awards — Celebrating Excellence

Baraka ondego

Code: L6UWJG

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CEO & Founder of the Year Excellence Award

4 nominees

Nova Excellence Awards · CEO & Founder of the Year Excellence Award

Baraka ondego

"Coach Baraka"

🎵 L6UWJG

About Me: A Social Entrepreneur, Business Leader and Champion of the Orange Economy

I am an entrepreneur, business leader, and talent development advocate passionate about empowering young people to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods. Through my work in business and community development, particularly with Eagle City, I have dedicated myself to creating opportunities for young people to discover their potential, develop practical skills, and use their creativity to build meaningful careers.

My recognition as Businessman of the Year within the Eagle City group reflects my commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and the belief that young people can become drivers of economic growth when given the right opportunities, mentorship, and platforms to showcase their talents.

Championing the Orange Economy Through Eagle City

One of my most significant contributions has been supporting the growth of the orange economy—the creative and cultural industries that generate economic value through talent, innovation, creativity, and intellectual property.

Through Eagle City and its talent development initiatives, I have worked to create pathways for young people to transform their abilities into professional opportunities. My approach goes beyond identifying talent; it focuses on developing skills, creating employment, and connecting talented young people with institutions and communities that need their services.

A key achievement has been contributing to employment opportunities for over 15 talented young people working as coaches, instructors, and trainers in various schools. These young professionals deliver training in a diverse range of disciplines, including:

* Music: Developing musical abilities, creativity, and performance skills.
* Coding and robotics: Equipping children with digital skills, technological literacy, and problem-solving abilities.
* Football: Promoting teamwork, discipline, leadership, and physical development.
* Dance and ballet: Nurturing artistic expression, coordination, and performance.
* Skating: Encouraging confidence, physical activity, and sporting talent.
* Film and theatre: Supporting storytelling, communication, performance, and creative production.

These initiatives demonstrate my belief that talent is not merely a gift to be admired but an economic asset that, when properly nurtured, can create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to national development.

By connecting talented individuals with schools and learning institutions, I am helping to create a model in which young people can earn income from their skills while inspiring the next generation to pursue entrepreneurship through creativity.

Entrepreneurial Leadership in Hospitality and Entertainment

My entrepreneurial journey also extends into the hospitality and food service industry through Jijibites, a food business that combines hospitality, digital commerce, and community-based service delivery.

I have focused on building a business that responds to changing consumer needs by using online food delivery platforms, including Glovo, Uber Eats, and Bolt Food, to reach customers beyond traditional walk-in services.

Through Jijibites, I have expanded into supplying food to corporate clients within my community, demonstrating my ability to identify market opportunities, diversify revenue streams, and build relationships with customers who require reliable food services.

My business approach is grounded in several key principles:

* Market adaptation: Embracing digital platforms and changing consumer behaviour to expand customer reach.
* Diversification: Exploring opportunities across hospitality, food delivery, entertainment, and talent development.
* Strategic partnerships: Building relationships with schools, corporate clients, digital platforms, and community stakeholders.
* Job creation: Creating opportunities for young people and supporting local economic activity.
* Innovation and resilience: Identifying gaps in the market and developing practical business solutions to meet emerging needs.

My experience in hospitality and entertainment has strengthened my understanding of customer service, operations, sales, branding, partnerships, and the importance of building sustainable business models in competitive markets.

My Vision for Young People and Africa’s Creative Economy

I believe Africa’s young population represents an extraordinary opportunity for economic transformation. However, unlocking this potential requires us to look beyond conventional employment pathways and recognise the economic value of creativity, sport, culture, technology, and entertainment.

My vision is to help build an ecosystem in which young people can develop their talents, access professional opportunities, earn sustainable incomes, and eventually establish their own enterprises.

I see significant potential in connecting talent development with digital technology, entrepreneurship, education, and the creative industries. For example, music and theatre can create opportunities in performance and production; football can support careers in coaching and sports management; and coding and robotics can prepare young people for emerging digital industries.

Through my work, I aim to contribute to a future where talent development becomes a practical pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.

Looking Ahead

My journey reflects a commitment to combining business acumen with social impact. Whether through creating opportunities for talent trainers in schools, expanding food services through Jijibites, or advocating for young people to monetise their abilities, my objective remains consistent: to turn talent into opportunity, creativity into enterprise, and entrepreneurship into a force for community transformation.

I aspire to continue building sustainable businesses, strengthening partnerships, and contributing to the growth of Kenya’s orange economy while inspiring young people to recognise that their talents can become not only their passion but also their profession and source of livelihood.

For me, entrepreneurship is not simply about building a successful business. It is about identifying opportunities where others see limitations, creating value for communities, and opening doors for the next generation of innovators, creators, and business leaders.

215 votes 46.2% of category

Morice Owaka

"Owaka"

240 votes · 51.6%

Gladys chepkemoi Bore

"Gladys Bore"

10 votes · 2.2%

Jack Fox

"Mr Jack Fox"

0 votes · 0%

Competitors 3 others