The 2025 edition of the Expatriates Business Awards (TEBA) is set to hold on July 6, to celebrate the outstanding contributions of expatriates, foreign-owned businesses, and migrant communities to Nigeria’s economic landscape.
The event will hold at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking at a news conference with reporters , Director of Awards, Miss Odunola Abayomi, emphasized the importance of recognizing the efforts of foreign nationals who have made Nigeria their home and investment ground.
“It is with immense pride and a deep sense of purpose that I welcome you all to this world press conference ahead of what promises to be another historic occasion,” Abayomi said. “Unlike many conventional award platforms that focus predominantly on Nigerian nationals, the Expatriates Business Awards is uniquely designed to recognize those who, though not born of this soil, have chosen to plant seeds here and watch them flourish.”
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According to her, expatriates have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), created employment, and brought innovation to key sectors. “Nigeria is not just a nation, it is a welcoming hub of opportunities and enterprise,” she said. “We see them, we appreciate them, and we celebrate them.”
Abayomi noted that the award selection process is currently ongoing through public opinion polls, nominations, and detailed research to ensure that only the most deserving individuals and businesses are honored.
This year’s event, she added, promises to be an unforgettable night of “exhibition, appreciation, music, and comedy, a harmonious blend of cultural vibrancy and diplomatic grace.”
The awards, powered by Pun Communications Ltd and under the auspices of the TEBA Foundation for Humanity, began in 2020 as The Ethnic Business Awards. Since then, the initiative has been rebranded with a sharper focus on celebrating non-Nigerian business impact.
Also speaking at the event, Irene Samuel-Ikhuolegbe, Head of Marketing and Communication at Aerocontractors Company of Nigeria Limited, explained the airline’s decision to support TEBA 2025.
“Aerocontractors is more than a commercial airline. We operate a fully functional maintenance and repair organization (MRO) that serves the West African region. This structure gives room for expatriates to bring in their technical expertise, contributing to a robust and efficient service model,” she said.
She described TEBA as a timely and necessary platform that “recognizes the often-overlooked role of foreign professionals and investors in building Nigeria’s aviation and other key industries.”
“When you evaluate the contribution of expatriates to the Nigerian economy, you find that they make significant additions to the GDP,” Samuel-Ikhuolegbe noted. “We can’t let that go unnoticed. Aerocontractors, as a culturally focused and inclusive brand, is intentional about celebrating this value.”
As anticipation builds for the awards night, organizers are calling on stakeholders, the diplomatic corps, and the international business community to join in what they promise will be a night of elegance, impact, and recognition.
“Let the countdown begin,” said Abayomi. “Let the stories of resilience be told. Let the champions be celebrated. Let the Expatriates Business Awards 2025 make history.”