The Nation Newspaper

Tag: entrepreneurship

  • Etisalat partners EDC on global entrepreneurship week

    Etisalat partners EDC on global entrepreneurship week

    Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University, recently held the 2013 edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), targeted at youths and young entrepreneurs in the country, to help improve their chances of succeeding in their various chosen businesses.

    Head, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Bidemi Ladipo, noted that it was important for business owners to have access to the right information needed to excel in business.

    “At Etisalat, we have been relentless in supporting initiatives that go a long way in assisting young people to achieve their dreams as regards successfully setting up businesses. Some of the initiatives we have used to help develop businesses include Market Access which is in partnership with SMEDAN, our Etisalat Easybusiness package which helps SMEs to communicate at a reduced cost and our recently launched promo called Easybusiness millionaire hunt which gives an opportunity for people with great business ideas to win as much as N2 million. This is the 3rd Edition of the Global Entrepreneurship week which we are sponsoring and we are satisfied with the level of impact these trainings have had,” he said.

    Also speaking at a seminar earlier organised for National Youth Corpers, Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, (EDC), Nneka Okekearu expressed satisfaction with the improved turnout at the seminar.

    “It has become very obvious that our contributions to the Global Entrepreneurship are beginning to pay off. In the last three years since Nigeria joined the international event, we have had over eight events, over 50 local partners and more than 1.5 million people have participated at the events held in Lagos and Calabar,” she said.

    She also commended Etisalat Nigeria for once again partnering with the Enterprise Development Centre for this year’s edition.

    “I want to particularly thank Etisalat for the support they have shown to EDC in making this edition of the GEW another success. They have been with us over the years and have continued to demonstrate strong support towards young entrepreneurs,” she said.

  • SMEDAN trains 90 youths on entrepreneurship in Kebbi

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has trained 90 unemployed youths in Kebbi State on entrepreneurship skills, its state Manager, Alhaji Ishaq Hamis, has said.

    He said in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital that the training, the agency held with a firm, Bubbles Consulting Nigeria Limited, was aimed at educating beneficiaries on record keeping and business management.

    “We expect the trainees to become experts in marketing strategies and product expansion.

    “The training is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to explore and expose job opportunities to the youths to enable them tap from the opportunities to become self-reliant,’’ he said.

    Hamis also said SMEDAN would sustain the programme, adding that the beneficiaries would be assisted to obtain loans from the Bank of Industries and public finance organisations, to set up their own businesses.

    He advised job seekers in the state to exploit the training opportunities to become self employed.

    One of the participants, Malam Zayyanu Shehu, commended the agency for the initiative, and called for the sustenance and expansion of the training to enable more youths to benefit.

    He urged NDE to provide take-off grants for those who excelled during the training.

  • NECA to train youths on entrepreneurship

    NECA to train youths on entrepreneurship

    The Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has said it is prepared to help more youths to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

    Stakeholders at its yearly training in Lagos said the initiative was to sharpen the business skills of teenagers.

    President of NNEW, Mrs. Lola Okanlawon,  who initiated the workshop, said it was an intervention to address the increasing unemployment rate and reduce miscreants in the country.

    “There is the need to build future leaders, promote and develop entrepreneurship among teenagers.

    “There is also the need to improve our business skills and financial power given the current financial state of the country.

    “The solution is to groom the entrepreneurial skills of children at an early age,”she said.

     

  • Support entrepreneurship growth, govt told

    The government can contribute significantly to the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) if it supports them, the President, Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Prince Saviour Iche said.

    Speaking at a meeting of the association in Lagos, Iche said AMEN was determined to reinvigorate entrepreneurs and push its activities, and that it would work with the government to restore SMEs’ confidence.

    One area SMEs require assistance, he said, is in the promotion of local products and this can be addressed by the government and its relevant agencies through the capitalising on the various channels.

    He said small businesses need support to grow.

    According to him, recognition of entrepreneurs as creators of jobs and prosperity should be spread into governance.

    He called for progress in the areas such as more simpler regulatory requirements and access to finance, support of new businesses, adding that this will reinvigorate entrepreneurship.

    He said the association was working to facilitate entrepreneurship among Nigerians by establishing branches across the country.

    He said the association would collaborate with government’s agencies to remove obstacles to genuine entrepreneurs establish a business.

     

  • ‘Embrace entrepreneurship’

    A Non Governmental Organisation, (NGO), Students for Liberty (SFL), has enjoined undergraduates in Nigeria to embrace entrepreneurship, as the key to sustainable economic growth and development of the nation.

    An International Executive Board Member of the organisation, Mr Olumayowa Okediran, said at a briefing ahead of the group’s two-day West Africa Regional Conference scheduled that there is need for students to engage in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) before graduating.

    He explained that the hydra-headed economic problems of Nigeria can no longer be left to the government, especially with the unemployment rate in the formal sector put at 23.9 per cent. As a result, he said out of six million employable young people that enter the job market, only 10 per cent get a job.

    Okediran said the NGO is set to assist the government to identify challenges and finding sustainable solutions to combat unemployment adequately. He said that entrepreneurship is the only answer, stressing that the small business started today has potential for growth tomorrow and would create employment.

    He said the SFL believes also that Nigeria’s problems would continue to be the entrepreneurs’ opportunities.

     

  • Why Nigeria didn’t appeal ICJ ruling on Bakassi-Jonathan

    Why Nigeria didn’t appeal ICJ ruling on Bakassi-Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons why Nigeria did not appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which awarded the oil-rich territory of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002.

    Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerian community in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday night, Jonathan said that Nigeria did not appeal in order to ensure the protection of Nigerians living in Cameroon.

    According to him, when two countries are friendly, the people of the two countries also tend to be friendly, but when the two countries disagree, their citizens tend to disagree also.

    He also explained that Nigeria had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement.

    Jonathan is in Cameroon for the summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which started yesterday and focusing on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    While the area had been heavily guarded by Cameroonian soldiers since their country took control of the territory from Nigeria on August 14, 2008, there is a deadline for Nigerians there to decide to become Cameroonian latest by August 2012 or leave the territory.

    He said: “You all know what happened in Bakassi, there is no need to go back on why we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement.

    “Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon. The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving”. He added

    Jonathan assured the citizens that his government was totally committed to their welfare and that their concerns on high cost of residence permits, high cost of tuition fees for students among others would be tabled before his host, President Paul Biya in order to find amicable solution to them.

    Commending the good reports on Nigerians in Cameroon, he assured that the various concerns raised on security, power, infrastructural deficits back home in Nigeria are all being tackled.

    He maintained that two years of his administration has recorded significant progress in key sectors.

    Urging Nigerians in diaspora to ignore negative reports that exaggerate the problems back home, he said that they should take time out to look at the parameters, GDP growth, foreign direct investments, which, he said, showed that “the economy is strong.”

    Stressing that investors do not take money to countries where nothing is happening, the President claimed that out of every $10 that comes to the continent, $4 comes into Nigeria.

    Speaking on agriculture and cement, he noted that non-importation of rice has impacted on the country’s revenue, saying, “We cannot be a giant of Africa when we keep importing rice, we must put a stop to that. The way we are going we will soon be exporting rice in few years. We are now exporting cement about 20 million tonnes”.

    Admitting that Nigeria has health challenges, Jonathan said: “I can assure you we are on course, I will make you happy. We will exploit the opportunity”.

    He also expressed unhappiness that Nigeria is among the four countries in the world with cases of polio.

    “I’m uncomfortable with the figure, why should Nigeria be among the four countries in the world with polio? We are committed to eradicating polio and we will eradicate it”. He assured

    On the power sector, he said that his administration was almost done with the privatisation exercise and when completed, the sector “will take a life of its own.”

    He said that work has been going on on road infrastructure after the flood experienced in the country last year.

    President Jonathan also disclosed that he personally advocated voting by Nigerians in diaspora, but that he cannot use executive fiat to veto it.

    Stating that the process is on course, he urged them to be patient until the constitution is finally amended.

    He however advised those passionate about the issue to write a petition to the National Assembly in order to push for the amendment.

    He said: “On diaspora votes, I advocated for it but before we can have it the constitution will have to be amended. I cannot use executive fiat to do it, we have to follow the constitution. We have a very vibrant diaspora and should be heard. You should send your petition to National Assembly so that they will know is not only Mr. President that is interested in it”.

    Promising that he will not allow them to be victimized or maltreated, Jonathan dispelled fears that the Federal Government has abandoned Nigerians who remained in the peninsula after its transfer to Cameroon.

    Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, in her opening remarks said the Nigerian community “is the best community any ambassador could ask for. They are hardworking, patrotic, law-abiding and have good working relations with the Mission”.

    She said the good working relationship existing between Nigeria and Cameroon has brought about reduction in harassment of citizens living in the host country.

    She said the complains of Nigerian citizens have been tabled before the Cameroonian authorities and “so far we have no reason to doubt the commitment of our host government to address the issues”.

    The President of the Nigerian Union, Center Region, Ebere Valentine, assured the President that Nigerians in Cameroon will continue to become good ambassadors and “project the image of our country well”.

    He appealed for more government involvement in the welfare of Nigerians in Cameroon as regards the cost of residence permit, saying 50 per cent reduction will be a welcome development”.

    Olukorede Adenowo, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, West and Central Africa, who is the representative of Nigerians in the Corporate Sector in Cameroon, said that there were opportunities that exist in the Cameroons and advised Nigerian businessmen to take advantage of the geographical proximity and the comparatively high prices.

    He noted that Nigerian businesses were active in aviation, general commerce, downstream oil and gas and banking in the Cameroon.

    He said other areas Nigerians can assist in terms of foreign direct investment and simultaneously make decent returns in Cameroon are in oil and gas exploration and production, commercial and residential real estates, entertainments, shopping malls.

    “We have been instrumental in working with our High Commission in bringing in several Nigerian businesses and helping them find their feet in Cameroon. We Nigerian professionals are ready and available to do more”, he said.

    Representative from the Bakassi Peninsular, Chief Etim Effiong, commended President Jonathan for not abandoning those of them that choose to remain in the Cameroon as Nigerians.

    According to him, they couldn’t bare to abandon the land that belonged to their fore-fathers for years and expressed happiness that the Nigerian government was working with the Cameroonian government to make them safe and at home in their community.

     

  • AfriHeritage urge Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship

    In order to address poverty and unemployment challenges, the Nigerian youths have been urged to take advantage of entrepreneurship initiatives using local raw materials.

    This call was made by stakeholders at the development policy seminar organised by the institute in Enugu.

    The occasion also featured the public presentation of the book- “30 Eye Openers to Business”, written by Mrs. Chinyere Funmilola Dike of Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State (CES MOUA).

    Reviewing the book, the Executive Director, AfriHeritage Institute, Dr. Ifediora Amobi said the institution would continue to encourage its Associate Fellows and collaborate with other stakeholders towards providing intellectual leadership in helping Nigeria and Africa think through the emerging economic renaissance.

    He commended the author for her dedicated research, commitment, tenacity and passion in opening the eyes of the world to 30 excellent business opportunities and pursuing the growth of entrepreneurial leadership and awareness in Nigeria and Africa at large.

    Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State (CES MOUA), Dr Gideon Onuekwusi said small organisations accounted for more than 80 per cent of jobs created in many developed countries, while it accounted for about 55 per cent in the third world.

    He added that the recent reforms in Nigeria have brought about tremendous growth in creating more jobs and it is just the beginning of great things being expected.

    Dr Onuekwusi averred that entrepreneurship education must run through all the levels of education so that the youths can place their hands on the production of goods, services and develop a business consciousness that guarantees survival and successful living, not only for the individual, but also for the society in which the individual lives and operates.

    The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Group Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom , Prof Chris Nwagboso commended the author for the work and showered encomiums on AfriHeritage for opening its platform for showcase the masterpiece.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • BoI, Gombe N3b entrepreneurship scheme enters phase two

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Gombe State Government have begun the second phase of the N3 billion Gombe State Government/Bol Entrepreneurship Development Scheme.

    Speaking during the kick off of the scheme, the Managing Director of BoI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, said transparency and transformative strategy should be deployed in the disbursement of the loan.

    She praised the strict professionalism deployed by officials and the 13-man Loan Monitoring Committee in ensuring that the loans are repaid a promptly, adding that this has made the state to carve a niche for itself in fund management.

    Ms. Oputu while pledging the support of the bank to ensuring that the newly established industrial cluster gains access to renewable energy through the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), called on the Dankwambo to consider the provision of land for cotton production, saying the Bank was in talks with investors from Madagascar and Malaysia who are willing to come because the state is rich in cotton production.

    She said in line with the objective of the government to encourage the exploitation of the state’s natural resource endowment, 80 per cent of the approved loan has been committed to agribusiness, with the balance reserved for construction and asquisition of chemical products

    Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo said his administration, two years ago, took the step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BoI to reposition the economic fortunes of the State.

    He said the move entails the creation of a “Matching Fund” of N1 billion through a joint contribution of N500 million each by the state government and BoI to Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in value addition activities in fertiliser blending, groundnut oil processing, rice, poultry feeds, fish feeds and tomato processing.

    Others are cosmetic manufacturing, aluminum long span roofing sheet manufacturing, poultry farming, printing, metal fabrication, block/interlocking moulding, carpentry and furniture making.

    He said the fund would provide soft and affordable loans to indigenes of the state, to invest in.

     

     

     

     

     

    And as part of value addition for the budding entrepreneurs to form a synergy and produce at a cheap cost, Dankwambo disclosed that his administration has provided a site for Industrial Cluster/Enterprise Zone for groundnut oil millers and rice processors who were hitherto scattered around.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Corps members preach entrepreneurship

    Parents and guardians have been advised to pay attention to the academic and vocational ability of their wards to prepare them for the future. Three Corps members serving in Anambra State – Olatunji Ojuola, Dina Ayodele and Idehen Frank made the charge during a skill acquisition programme organised for the pupils of Holy Ghost Academy Secondary School, Ring Road, Awka.

    The pupils were trained on four vocations that could benefit them. They were taught how to make domestic products such as liquid soap, disinfectant, air freshener and body perfume.

    Olatunji, a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Ibadan (UI) advised the pupils to see entrepreneurship as the alternative to white-collar jobs.

    Another Corps member, Mary Oladosu, who facilitated a session during the seminar, counselled the pupils on challenges of unemployment, saying entrepreneurship remains the solution. She advised the pupils to develop their vocation skills now.

  • Students get entrepreneurship, ICT training

    Afirm, Wisdom Computer Technology, in collaboration with National Association of Information Technology Students (NAITS), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) chapter, has held an Information and Communication Technology summit and entrepreneurship workshop for students.

    Tagged 21 computer secretes that give money in the 21st century, the seminar, held in USB Lecture Hall 3 in the School of Management Technology, was geared towards making students self-reliant and productive after graduation.

    For students to achieve prosperity in the absence of white-collar jobs, Francis Uzor, a guest speaker, said the solution was to embrace entrepreneurship while in school.

    Uzor said information technology was widely acknowledged as jobs dispenser. He urged students to take advantage of abundant human and natural resources in Nigeria to enhance their living standard. He explained that the biggest economies in the world achieved growth through the utilisation and development of small-scale medium enterprises, adding that it was vital for Nigeria to embrace such a concept to enhance its own development in the Information technology (IT) world.

    To address the problem of unemployment in Nigeria, Uzor urged the students to embrace Information Technology, which he said was capable to drive job creation to power the engine of the economy.

    The programme was attended by members of the NAITS executive among who included Christian Esomofor, president and Uche Agomuo, Financial Secretary. The staff adviser of the association, Mr Cosmos Nwakanma also graced the seminar.