Former Participant Amanda Etuk Joins Cascador as Program Director: “A Match Made in Heaven”

Feb 12, 2025

Lagos, Nigeria – February 12, 2025 – Cascador, the preeminent accelerator program for mid-stage Nigerian entrepreneurs, today announced the appointment of Amanda Etuk as Program Director. Etuk, a former Cascador participant and co-founder of Messenger, a financing platform for last-mile logistics operators, brings firsthand experience with the transformative impact of the program to her new role.

The appointment marks a significant milestone in Cascador’s mission to develop transformational leaders in Nigeria. “I’ve always wanted to help people – it’s one of my personal values,” said Etuk, reflecting on her transition from participant to Program Director. “Being able to support entrepreneurs who face the same challenges I did, while working with an organization deeply committed to their success, feels like a match made in heaven. We’re not just providing funding; we’re building a sustainable ecosystem where entrepreneurs can thrive and pay it forward.”

“Amanda embodies everything we look for in both our participants and our team,” said Trish Thomas, Co-Director of Cascador. “Her experience as an entrepreneur, combined with her passion for supporting others and deep understanding of the Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem, makes her uniquely qualified to help shape the future of our program. Her appointment represents our commitment to not just developing great entrepreneurs, but creating a sustainable ecosystem of leaders who give back to their community.”

In her role as Program Director, Etuk will focus on enhancing program design, strengthening alumni support, and building a more robust entrepreneurial community. She brings a unique perspective to the position, having experienced the challenges entrepreneurs face firsthand. “Sometimes there are barriers between a founder and an investor, or a founder and a mentor,” Etuk explained. “But when you have a peer who understands what you’re going through, there’s no barrier to communication. In this role, I can be balanced and fair and communicate what is the greatest need for the entrepreneur at any given time.”

The significance of Cascador’s focus on Nigeria resonates deeply with Etuk. “Nigeria is the most populous black nation – one in four people of African descent is Nigerian,” she noted. “Imagine the impact we could have by supporting innovation in this country. We have Nigerians in the far reaches of society, and we want to have more positive messaging coming out of here. We want to talk more about our innovation, scale our support for enterprise, and create more opportunities for gainful employment. That does a lot for the continent and the world as a whole.”

Dave DeLucia, Founder of Cascador, emphasized the significance of having a former participant join the leadership team: “Amanda’s transition from participant to Program Director perfectly illustrates our mission of developing transformational leaders. Her insights will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our program to meet the needs of Nigerian entrepreneurs.”

Chidi Okoro, Cascador Co-Director and Head of Strategy at Lagos Business School, added: “Having refined our approach to supporting Nigerian startups over the past six years, bringing Amanda onto our team marks an exciting new chapter. Her understanding of both sides of the entrepreneurial journey will help us create even more meaningful connections between our curriculum and the market challenges our participants face.”

Looking ahead, Etuk has ambitious plans for expanding Cascador’s impact, drawing on lessons from her own experience in the program. “One thing I took away from Cascador that transformed me wasn’t just business advice – it was the importance of character in building something meaningful,” Etuk reflected. “How you respond to messages, how people feel after interacting with you, the discipline of timeliness – these soft skills are just as crucial as business acumen. You can get business information from anywhere, but watching someone personify the principles they teach is invaluable.”

“We’re looking forward to dramatically increasing our impact metrics, particularly in job creation,” she shared. “We currently have 35% female participation in Cascador programs over the last six years, and I’m excited to welcome even more women into our cohorts and alumni community. We want to create a renewed sense of achievement – almost like a badge of honor – to have become a Cascador. This is where you should be if you’re serious about building in Nigeria and creating impact.”

The appointment also represents a remarkable professional journey for Etuk herself. “Now I’m the program director for one of the largest impact investment funds in Africa – that’s pretty good growth,” she reflected. “I get to speak to some of the brightest minds in the Nigerian ecosystem, hear insights from top mentors, and learn about properly managing and financing organizations. These are insights that people pay thousands to get in MBA programs, and I got that through Cascador. Now I have the privilege of helping others access these same opportunities.”

About Cascador

Cascador is an annual, intensive program focused on developing mid-stage Nigerian entrepreneurs who are scaling mission-driven companies. Through a unique blend of education, mentoring, and personalized support, Cascador empowers entrepreneurs to make a positive impact through job creation, innovation, and development of opportunities for underprivileged and marginalized communities. Since its launch in 2019, Cascador alumni have collectively raised over $55M USD in capital and are actively transforming their communities for the better.

For more information about Cascador, visit www.cascador.org