Abiko Eghagha, the winner of the first International Young Performing Arts Entrepreneurs of the Year (IYPAEY) competition in Accra, Ghana, is ready to jet off to the UK to take on the best of the best.

The competition is a global British Council initiative to champion and celebrate creative entrepreneurs working in the field of performing arts. While awards for creative talent are common, the IYPAEY award is unique in recognising the importance of entrepreneurs.

Eghagha, 31, emerged as the winner from a strong short list of 28 Ghanaians, aged between 25 and 35, in a series of interviews by a panel of judges in May this year.

She will join finalists from nine other countries in the UK to compete in the international final in July. They will also be able to network with people in the UK performing arts sector and with each other.

'It’s a very exciting opportunity,' said Eghagha, 'because it’s extremely difficult to go to England otherwise.'

With an MPhil in African Studies and a BA in Theatre Arts, she is the founder and director of General Media Solutions, an audio-visual production company established in 2002. The company specialises in screen writing, producing and directing short feature videos, television and radio programmes and commercials.

Eghagha found a niche in performing arts through adapting video (and multi-media) to enhance the application of theatre for communication and social development. She has worked all over Ghana and with various development organisations.

As a winner of the competition, Eghagha received full sponsorship from the British Council to participate in the IYPAEY UK Industry Tour as well as an opportunity to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 24 July to 7 August. She also stands a chance to win the ultimate prize of £7 500 at the IYPAEY international competition.

'If I win,' Eghagha said, 'I will use the money to develop my resource centre.' The centre provides children with an opportunity to develop their language skills through theatre. 'It’s a place to play and learn,' Eghagha said.

The IYPAEY award is a collaboration between the British Council and the Creative Economy Unit to showcase international business innovation in the performing arts, using the UK as the nexus for cultural, creative and commercial exchange.

For more information about what art events the British Council is involved in, as well as the British Council’s involvement in artform education, click here. Keep an eye on arts and sciences events happening in Africa by visiting our events calendar. The British Council also supports several other initiatives in Africa, including schools partnerships, teacher support and professional development.