The Lagos State government in its drive to equip the youth with requisite entrepreneurial skills to realise their dreams of owning a business of their own held another edition of its annual Enterprise Day recently. MIRIAM EKENE-OKORO was there.
When Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN) inaugurated Enterprise Day, an annual event in the state, little did he know that the programme will turn out to become a spring board for the development of young entrepreneurs in the state.
This year’s celebration with the theme “Technical and Vocational Skills as a Gateway for Enterprise Development” held recently at NECA House in Alausa and attracted thousands of young people from the five technical colleges in the state, stakeholders from different sectors as well as government officials.
The forum provided opportunity for the students to interact with successful entrepreneurs, while ten young people that excelled in youth-led businesses and other entrepreneurial pursuits were honoured by the state government.
Some of the speakers at the events including President of McBride Research Laboratories, Mr. Cornell McBride; Chief Executive Officer of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi and Founding Partner of Red Media Africa, Mr. Adebola Williams,who addressed the students shared their experience of rejection and success.
Citing his own example, McBride emphasised the need for humility, saying this was what helped him in business and in life. He explained that he knew why he wanted to build a business empire that would outlive him. But he said he did not know how to do it.
He acknowledged that he suffered a lot of disruption along the way and that in spite of what he went through, he did not resign to fate, but that his vision kept on driving him until he realised his ambition.
“I had to do all kinds of odd jobs to make money. And I was proud of doing those odd jobs, even though I went into the US Army when I relocated to the New York at 24. I later went to College in order to hone my entrepreneurial skill. I am simply a product of humility.”
Ogunlesi said that one other critical element, which she described as the cornerstone of every successful business was humility, urging the students that if they must build viable business empires, they must imbibe the spirit of professionalism that would require them to set rules and standards to guide the conduct of their business transaction.
Ogunlesi told the story of her life, saying she was indifferent in her academic pursuit. She said even though she gained admission to undertake a law programme at Ahmadu Bello University, Congo Campus, she only managed to spend two weeks on the programme.
Her reasons for quitting, she said, was not because she could not cope with the rigours of academic pursuit, but that she was pursuing what she had passion for rather than mere academic honours, adding that her passion gave birth to Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, now branded an indigenous firm with global appeal. According to her, the fact that she chose not to pursue her law degree did not make her an illiterate.
Ogunlesi advised the graduating students to take advantage of the incentive which the state government had given to help realise their dreams and visions.
Also, Adebola Williams, founding Partner of Red Media Africa encouraged the graduating students to rise up and position themselves as the country’s solution providers rather than liabilities. He said they do not have excuse not to succeed, citing the right platform and support that the state government has been giving through LASTVEB.
Addressing the gathering, General Secretary Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) Mr. Olawumi Gasper, said the programme was designed to develop a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Gasper explained that the programme will also assist students of the state’s technical colleges on the need for competence-based education, adding that in the last five years, the technical colleges in the state have already imbibed the entrepreneurial culture as embedded in the curriculum of the technical colleges.
He also noted that vocational skill trades are sufficiently infused with entrepreneurial elements that have harnessed the power of entrepreneurial competence.
According to him, “in the past, emphasis was placed on knowledge, skills, qualities, attitude, innovation and creativity among students of the technical colleges in the state, thereby preparing them to become self-reliant and competitive in the new dynamic and globalised world.”
He said the state’s entrepreneurship development project of the technical colleges alongside the chosen trade of the students “have no doubt contributed to job creation and acquisition of necessary skills by the graduates towards self-employment. It is noteworthy that the private sector has been in support.
“To produce high-quality competence with entrepreneurial and technical skills for economic growth, well being of society and creation of long term wealth for individuals. In training them, the spirit of entrepreneurship is continuously being infused into learning, enabling trainees to seek entrepreneurial opportunities leading to success.”
Governor Fashola who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire said the government was not only developing the entrepreneurial capacity of the technical students, but had also put in place an arrangement for any graduate of its technical colleges “to access takeoff credit facility.”
The governor said the loans “will be given to the students at single-digit interest rate. Aside, the students are not expected to provide any collateral except that they are not from any of the government owned colleges of education. That is one of the reasons for the establishment of Lagos State Micro Finance Institution (LASMI).”
The take-off loan for the graduates of the state’s technical colleges will be processed through the LASMI while forms will be provided for the intended students at their various institutions to enable them apply. We have chosen to champion vocational and technical education because it focuses specifically on providing relevant skills while preparing them to be better positioned to develop new enterprises.
“We have not departed from the position that technical and vocational education presents a complementary approach to general education. Our students are given the right opportunity to explore and identify potential career goals and are provided with the resources needed to achieve goals through technical partnership with industry stakeholders,” he added.
Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladunjoye said: “Following the success of the first edition, the second edition is designed to celebrate legacies of successful entrepreneurs while also promoting immense opportunities in youth-led businesses and other entrepreneurial pursuits.”
One of the students, Miss Mariam Sunday, who graduated from Government Technical College, Epe in Computer Craft, said listening to the various speakers have renewed her spirit not to let go of her dream of becoming a great entrepreneur in the future.
Also, Master Adeola Shobowale said “I came to the Enterprise Day confused, but I have hope now. My plan is to be an entrepreneur of global brand. This forum has equipped me with the necessary tips to realise my long-term dream.”
He told The Nation that he had just completed his programme in electrical installation and engineering and also undergone training in FATE Foundation, which he said, has helped him to master the procedure of writing business plan.
Shobowale said the next stage would be to start building his business and keep developing capacity in his area of specialization, which he said, would rank among the best in the next five years.
