allAfrica.com: UBA Introduces DRAGONS DEN, a Reality TV Show for Entrepreneurs

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa's global bank, has announced the commencement of a Business Reality TV Show aimed at providing aspiring entrepreneurs (The Pitchers) the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of wealthy and successful business people (The Dragons) for a chance to obtain the investment they need to take their business ideas to the next level.

Packaged to be an exciting, nail biting, humorous and above all educative and informative show, Dragons Den is a successful global franchise that is coming for the first time to Sub-Saharan Africa (ex-Republic of South Africa) courtesy of production company STORM with UBA as title sponsor, supported by MTN.

The show will be broadcast on the popular African Independent Television (AIT) and (DSTV 132) from Sunday July 27th 2008 at 9.30pm-10.30pm, to run for approximately 13 weeks.

In a cocktail ceremony at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on Friday 18th of July, the Reality show was officially launched and the "DRAGONS" revealed to the world media.

The Dragons are successful personalities from diverse economic sectors whose common characteristics are their wealth, their keen entrepreneurial instincts, sharp analytical minds and readiness to invest millions of naira of their own money in new business ideas from the Pitchers.

The Dragons are: Media entrepreneur and Channels TV owner John Momoh, British-born ringtone millionaire serial entrepreneur Alexander Amosu, Marketing guru Chris Parkes, award-winning businesswoman Ibukun Awosika, finance whizz-kid Femi Tejuosho and venture capitalist businesswoman Tokunbo Ishmael.

These Dragon are drawn from the best crop of the budding entrepreneurial class. They will be regular features of the programme bringing the Den alive with the aura of serious business insights and battle of wits as they put the Pitchers through their paces to reveal the real gems of business ideas worthy of their hard earned cash.

Speaking at the launch, Celine Loader, Director of Marketing and Communications, UBA Group, said "Sponsorship of the Dragons Den forms part of the UBA experiential branding strategy, which aims to embed our brand in the lives of the community in ways that infuse excitement whilst building goodwill and loyalty for the brand." She further explained that the TV Show falls under the 'UBA Edutainment' platform which provides communities with 'Functional and Educative Entertainment' initiatives.

Her statement concluded that Dragons Den which is unique and different from other business reality shows will further the bank's aim to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa, in line with its intent to be a key contributor to the economic development of the continent.

Unlike any other business reality show where there is prize money, successful Pitchers in the Dragons Den will secure the funds they require to grow their businesses in exchange for equity and returns, thus, it's not not just about starting a business, its about running and building a successful business.