The recent tour of a Canadian delegation led by the Mayor of Brampton City to Lagos State may have opened up a vista of opportunities for young Nigerian entrepreneurs, especially those adept in food production, cyber security, real estate, among others. The delegation noted that the African continent is the next frontier in entrepreneurial success, tipping Nigerian youths to champion the cause, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.
The feat being recorded by Nigerians in the global space may after all not be going unnoticed. And recently, dividends for such feats appear to be rubbing off on others back home. It was an offer from unusual quarters as a Canadian delegation on a three day working city to the country extended a hand of fellowship to young Nigerian entrepreneurs to come and invest in Brampton City, Canada.
The delegation, led by the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, at an interactive session with 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs in Lagos, called on the country’s young entrepreneurs to come explore the business opportunities in one of the fastest growing business communities in Canada- Brampton City.
The tour was facilitated by a Nigerian firm, Pertinence Group, an indigenous firm with interests in youth empowerment, business development, real estate, and several investment portfolio, in partnership with Upsurgence Canada and with support from the Nigerian Canadian Investment and Trade Group.
“Brampton wants to be part of the Nigeria’s success story. We hope to do business with Nigerians, as there are opportunities for Nigeria to be greater than imagined. This is my second coming to the country; first time was during the commonwealth meeting and I was part of the Canadian delegation. I remember saying that this is a beautiful country. You can’t come to Nigeria once and not want to come back,” Brown said.
According to the Mayor, the large population of the enterprising youths in Nigeria is similar to those in Brampton. The youths, he said, makes Brampton the fastest growing city in Canada which he noted is similar to what is happening currently in Nigeria.
“We see ourselves as the same. We respect each other, our neighbours. It doesn’t matter where you’re born, the colour of your skin, once you have the determination to succeed, Canada will give you the opportunity. Brampton provides everyone an equal opportunity to succeed; no discrimination of any form,” he said.
He further charged young Nigerians in business to see Brampton as a City ever willing to accommodate them. “If you’re in Lagos looking for how to get opportunities to scale up your business, Brampton is a place to go. I believe in those who say the next frontier for entrepreneurial success is Africa,” the Mayor noted, acknowledging the determination of many young Nigerian entrepreneurs to remain in business despite the harsh economic situation in the country.
While the offer seems a blank cheque, preference will be given to start-ups in manufacturing, technology, especially in cybersecurity as well as food and beverages. This is because the Brampton City focus is on jobs for tomorrow, an avenue that is creating windows for technology. He revealed that the City only recently welcomed 15 tech start-ups from India as part of her recognition for the technological growth from the start-ups from the country.
“The Canadian prime minister just announced that Brampton will be the centre of cybersecurity. Our city is investing heavily in cybersecurity. This is a sector worth $600 billion. We focus on tech start-ups. These are businesses of tomorrow,” Brown said.
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In similar vein, Brampton City Councillor, Charmaine William, urged women to strive to excel in whatever disciplines they had chosen. William, alongside Brown, admonished the over 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs that gathered inside the Terra Kulture Hall in Victoria Island Lagos, never to allow anybody to discourage them from actualising their dreams, adding that once they had a vision or dream, they should follow it with passion.
A co-Founder of Pertinence Group, the promoters of the tour, Sunday Olorunsheyi, described Nigeria as a land of opportunities but noted that to maximise the opportunities, young entrepreneurs needed some help. This reality, he explained, prompted his firm to invite the Mayor of Brampton and his team, whom he described as a youth advocate, to come and encourage Nigerian youths in business.
“Mayor Brown understands you; he appreciates the challenges which the youths face. He understands what you go through, your frustrations, your aspirations, your yearnings and your dreams and this is why he is here today to enlighten you about opportunities you can access in the City of Brampton, Canada. We have explored the various opportunities which the City of Brampton can facilitate for Nigerian youths and entrepreneurs, and I can tell you, they are many,” Olorunsheyi said.
Another Co-Founder and Executive Director of Pertinence Group, Wisdom Ezekiel, explained that the firm is an embodiment of entrepreneurship through and through, and will continue to advocate that entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and those they inspire define the future of Nigeria’s transformation. He therefore called on the government to prioritise the youth and entrepreneurs.
“May I also use this opportunity to challenge Nigerian businesses to continue to invest in an enabling ecosystem that encourages youth and entrepreneurship development at whatever level. From scholarships to reality shows and contests. SMEs have always been the lifeblood of capitalist economies; Nigeria is not different,” Ezekiel said.
Also as part of the visit, the Mayor and his delegation visited the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and discussed ways to collaborate using technology. The Governor informed the team that leveraging technology would facilitate the ease of doing business in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, while commending the efforts made by the Mayor to accelerate more development in Brampton, said Brampton City shared similar history with Lagos as both cities had grown over the decades to become the hubs of commerce and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He revealed that Lagos would be seeking bilateral cooperation with the political leadership of the Canadian city in the areas of cyber security, food security, and technology, among others.
According to him, the state has embarked on intensive infrastructural programme to make Lagos more attractive to people in the Diaspora to invest in. “All these efforts will sustain the position of Lagos as the first destination for business and keep our economy growing at a steady pace. Lagos is the tech. hub in the sub-Saharan Africa and there are many collaborations we can seal with Brampton in the area of cyber security,” he said.
Responding, Brown described Nigerians living in Brampton as “resilient people”, saying their influence on the City’s economy and culture contributed to its economic prosperity and social development. He said that because of the resilience of Nigerians in Canada, the country decided to focus on Nigeria and see possible areas of collaboration.
Mayor Brown also met with the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II at his Palace in Ile-Ife. The visit was aimed at celebrating and refreshing Nigeria’s brand as the African business and cultural leader as premised by the age long relationship that exists between the City of Brampton and Diaspora Nigerians.
It will be recalled that Mayor Brown and Council had On August 12, 2019 hosted Ooni Ogunwusi to a reception at the Brampton City Hall in Ontario, Canada where the monarch proclaimed Brampton as the African city of Canada with Nigerian national flag hoisted in front of Brampton City beside the Canadian and Brampton flags in honour of the king.
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