At an interactive session with about 300 young entrepreneurs in Lagos, a window of opportunities was thrown open for young Nigerians and start-ups in food production, manufacturing cyber security, real estate and food and beverages, among others. It was thrown open by the Mayor of Brampton City, who led a Canadian delegation on a three day working visit to Nigeria. He was at the event, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.
Are you a young entrepreneur or a start-up in manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and real estate? Are you interested in business opportunities outside the shores of Nigeria? Look no further! A window of opportunities has been thrown open for you in Canada – Brampton City – by no other than its Mayor.
The Mayor, Patrick Brown, who led a Canadian delegation on a three-day working visit to Nigeria, made the offer at an interactive session with about 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs in Lagos.
The event was organised by Pertinence Group, an indigenous firm interested in youth empowerment, business development, real estate, and several other portfolios. It was in partnership with Upsurgence Canada and supported by the Nigerian Canadian Investment and Trade Group. Venue was the Terra Kulture Hall on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Brown told the young entrepreneurs that there were vast opportunities in manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and food and beverages, among others, waiting to be explored “in one of the fastest growing business communities in Canada – Brampton City.” He urged them to come and invest as his city wanted to be part of Nigeria’s success story.
His words: “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; I was part of the Canadian delegation. I remember saying that Nigeria is a beautiful country. You can’t come to Nigeria once and not want to come back.”
According to the Mayor, the large population of enterprising youths in Nigeria is similar to Brampton’s. The youth, he said, make Brampton the fastest growing city in Canada just as it 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 the place to go. I believe in those who say the next frontier for entrepreneurial success is Africa,” Brown stated, acknowledging the determination of many young Nigerian entrepreneurs to remain in business, despite the harsh economic situation in the country.
While the offer may seem like 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 Brampton City’s focus is on jobs for tomorrow – windows for technology.
Brown said the city recently welcomed 15 tech start-ups from India in recognition of the technological growth of start-ups in 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.
He noted that the feats being recorded by Nigerians in the global space were not unnoticed, stressing that it was the dividend of such feats that seem to be rubbing off on others in the country.
Similarly, Brampton City Councillor Charmaine William urged women to strive to excel in whatever discipline they had chosen.
William admonished the over 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs that gathered inside the hall not to let anyone discourage them from actualising their dreams, adding that once they have a vision or dream, they should follow it with passion.
A co-founder of Pertinence Group, the promoters of the visit and interactive session, Sunday Olorunsheyi, described Nigeria as a land of opportunities, noting that to maximise the opportunities, young entrepreneurs needed help.
This, 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 youth face. He understands what you go through, your frustrations, your aspirations, your yearnings and your dreams. 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, said the firm was an embodiment of entrepreneurship, and would continue to advocate that entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and those they inspire define the future of Nigeria’s transformation. He 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 youths 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.
Brown and his delegation visited Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu where they discussed ways to collaborate using technology. Sanwo-Olu 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 development in Brampton, said the city shared a similar history with Lagos as both had grown over the decades to become the hubs of commerce and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He said Lagos would seek bilateral cooperation with the political leadership of the Canadian city in cybersecurity, 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 technology hub in sub-Saharan Africa and there are many collaborations we can seal with Brampton in the area of cybersecurity,” 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 because of the resilience of Nigerians in Canada, the country decided to focus on Nigeria for possible areas of collaboration.
He 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 and the age-long relationship between Brampton and Diaspora Nigerians.
It will be recalled that Brown and his Council last August 12 hosted Ooni Ogunwusi to a reception at the Brampton City Hall in Ontario, Canada. The monarch at the event 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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