Anabel Group advocates capacity devt for inclusive growth

WORRIED by the dwindling pace of the nation’s economic growth and its attendant effects on employment opportunities, Anabel Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nicholas Okoye has advocated investment in people as against emphasis on infrastructural development.

Besides, Okoye urged corporate Chief Executives to place premium on entrepreneurship development initiatives for their staff in order to equip them with the right skill for enhanced productivity.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, recently, Okoye lamented the teeming youth unemployment and the extent to which many Nigerians depend entirely on the government for sustenance.

Unveiling the strategy for entrepreneurship development, Okoye explained that there should be a deliberate and consistent policy to expose youths to entrepreneurial training while the older people should be equally trained and supported.

“Our National Development Strategy Services should be people-oriented. It is good to invest in infrastructural development but it is better to invest in the people who will drive the infrastructure. There is no country that has made progress without development of its people. Our youths have formed an army of unemployed. The list is becoming elongated by the day.

“There is a great misconception about empowerment of people. Many Nigerians regard empowerment as giving money to people in the name of ‘national cake’. This is not so. Empowerment is more of exposing people to the right skills and such people can efficiently manage the resources” Okoye noted.

According to him, Anabel Group operates on strategy, leadership and entrepreneurship and the company has developed a number of products aimed at developing entrepreneurship spirit among different segments of the society.

Okoye noted that Anabel developed start-up Nigeria, a programme that supports entrepreneurs with the right skills and resources.

“We also have Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Women and Senior Entrepreneurs. This focuses on networking, identifying global sources of necessary information and strategic communication.