And the Winner Is…

And the Winner Is…

The 2025 International Business Plan Competition (IBPC) ended with a twist no one could have predicted. For the first time in five years, Kenya’s winning streak was broken when Soorin Backer, CEO of NABI, was announced as the global champion.

It was a nail-biting finish between two extraordinary entrepreneurs: Soorin Backer and Carolla Ngini-Ohaga, Director of St. Christopher School in Kenya. The competition became an almost David and Goliath story.

Carolla’s presentation moved hearts, showcasing the remarkable legacy of St. Christopher School—the first international school in Kenya owned by a Kenyan woman, her mother, Mrs. Leah Ngini, who serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors. Carolla herself carries forward this pioneering vision. The school’s origins are rooted in a time when Africans were not allowed to teach white students in Kenya. Though Carolla’s mother founded the school, she was not legally permitted to teach there in its early years. Today, St. Christopher School stands as a beacon of education and empowerment, impacting countless families and communities.

Carolla’s delivery was so powerful that she won the People’s Choice Award with overwhelming support.

Yet, when the final decision came down, the judges surprised everyone—including Soorin herself—by awarding the top prize to NABI. Soorin’s business plan impressed the judges with its depth, scalability, and kingdom impact. Many in the audience sat in stunned silence as the announcement was made, and Soorin’s own expression reflected disbelief.

Adding another historic moment to this year’s competition, the third-place award went to Glory Divine Yougang Tahon from Cameroon. With her initiative, Educate Young Girls, she represented Cameroon Africa for the very first time in the International Business Plan Competition. Her venture is dedicated to empowering underprivileged girls through education and mentorship, offering hope and opportunity to the next generation of African leaders.

Why the judges chose Soorin over Carolla remains known only to them. What is clear, however, is that this year’s competition highlighted three extraordinary women—each a champion in her own right—whose vision, resilience, and faith-driven leadership embody the very heart of the Nehemiah Entrepreneurship Community.

Congratulations to Soorin Backer for making history as the 2025 International Business Plan Competition winner – the first US Entrepreneur to win the global competition, to Carolla Ngini-Ohaga for her groundbreaking achievement as People’s Choice and for continuing her mother’s legacy at St. Christopher School, and to Glory Divine Yougang Tahon for representing Cameroon with boldness and purpose through Educate Young Girls.

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