Nigerian youths were recently urged to leverage on opportunities available for them and make something of themselves as solution providers early in life. This forms the thrust of the third Trek Africa Entrepreneurship Conference (TAEC) 2018, themed “Spirit of Enterprise” which held at the Expo Centre of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) complex. The Chairman of the occasion and elder statesman, Chief Lanre Rasak, an astute business mogul, harped on the need for youths to grow in self reliance. According to Razak, government in other states of the country should provide take off grants to the tune of N5m to youths, like what is obtained in Lagos State through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to aid entrepreneurial spirit. He noted that the chain reaction of this available funds will multiply and increase, giving room for others to benefit and grow economically able individuals in the society. “I admire the activities of young Nigerian entrepreneurs who have been revolutionizing their trade, their success inspires me to advocate for inclusion of vocation into the education system in the country. “I advise that government initiate an entrepreneurship course into the University curriculum to help integrate them into society so as to groom them ahead graduation, so employment won’t be an issue.” He charged unemployed youths to embrace entrepreneurship as the best option in the diversification of the economy.
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Adeniyi Adams, Managing Director, KnightStone Properties Limited, who delivered a lecture at the conference noted that poor employability status of the youth remain the problem, not unemployment. “The youths should take advantage of the situation, the challenge in Nigerian economy should rather be a drive for creativity not an obstruction. “There is no future for Nigeria except we introduce entrepreneurial education from our secondary school level; employability is the main problem with our youths, not unemployment.
The convener of the (TAEC) initiative, Mr. Oki Samson stated unequivocally that though various socio-economic indices points the negative, youths should maintain their stance of being self reliant while leveraging on big players information made available. “It is a fact that various economic indices like rate of inflation, unemployment rate, are pointing negative, but we cannot fold our arms and let situation be. “Yet, it is unrealistic to expect the government to provide jobs for every single youth in the country, thus, youths should priorities and learn skills that can take them out of poverty. “TAEC 2018 brings key players in the private sector, policy makers in government circles and experts in finance and economy together to spur enterprising youths and fashion out strategies that will enable the country extend the frontiers of enterprise development,” Samson said.
Winners of the Trek Africa Entrepreneurship Conference special recognition awards includes, Knightstone Properties limited as the Real Estate company of the year received by the MD/Ceo, Mr. Adeniyi Adams, Dr. Chima Anyaso, CEO Ceecon Energy Oil and Gas Ltd as the Male Entrepreneur personality of the year received by Mr. Victor Imeh, MD Eleganza Industrial City, Chief (Dr.) Sade Okoya as the Female Entrepreneur personality of the year, CEO of Image Booster, Debbie Larry-Izamoje, Founder/ CEO Lashed by Ojurire, Princess Toyin Ogunwusi as the Next Rated Entrepreneur and Balogun of Epe Land, Chief Lanre Rasak honoured with Lifetime good leadership achievement award.
Meanwhile, Certificate of Entrepreneurship were presented to all the participants.
Grace Ama, a Nollywood ambassador, Debby Larry Izamoje, Ayodeji Finni, Amb. Tosin Sanusi, Special Adviser of ECOWAS Youth Council on Education, Mr. Alaba Ayinuola (Ceo Sterling Bank Plc), Ifunaya Mitchell (USA) and Chichi all form team of panelists spurring participants creative and entrepreneurial competence.