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At UACHD youth seminar, Utomi, Soludo, others give tips for overcoming recession

By Chuks Nwanne
14 October 2017   |   3:50 am
Addressing the gathering, former CBN Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Solundo said disruptive change is permanent feature of life, including nations, adding that recession will soon end but the scars will endure.

Lanre Olusola (left front row), Ini Abimbola, Prof Soludo, Uche Ahubelem and Prof Pat Utomi during the seminar at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

In a bid to provide young entrepreneurs with a clear direction on how to navigate the current economic challenges in the country, as well as help them succeed in their ventures, the Uche Ahubelem Centre for Human Development (UACHD), a foundation that is committed to enlarging human capacity and raising quintessential leaders, recently organised a seminar under the theme: Resettion: Succeeding In Recession.

Held at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the session, which was anchored by Nollywood star Monalisa Chinda Coker and comedian Okey Bakassi, attracted young entrepreneurs from different walks of life, who were determined to learn from the masters. And with the likes of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr. Uche Ahubelem (founder UACHD), Mr. Lanre Olusola, Mrs. Ini Abimbola, Ms. Abimbola Adebakin and Mr. Debo Adejana as resource persons, it was indeed a worthwhile experience for the entrepreneurs, who left the session rejuvenated.

According to Uche Ahubelem, the initiative is in line with the foundation’s agenda of developing dynamic, innovative and principled leaders, who will become catalysts for the growth of the economy. Ahubelem, who is also the GMD, C.E.O of Brickwall Group of Companies, informed that the programme aims at resetting the mindset of the participants to spot new opportunities in recession, prepare for future recession and learn new techniques that will take their businesses to greater heights.

Addressing the gathering, former CBN Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Solundo said disruptive change is permanent feature of life, including nations, adding that recession will soon end but the scars will endure.

“Our focus is on ‘you’ as an individual—preparing to succeed in spite of current and future disruptive changes. Life as successive chains of disruptive changes— no condition is permanent! Change is permanent. There’s no end to success, only continuous innovation keeps you with the times. The day you think you have arrived is the day you start falling. Top 100 companies 50 years ago versus today, how many still survive? Look around your villages, and compare the successful in last 20 years versus successful of today. To keep being at the top, everyday is an innovation day; you can’t hope to win tomorrow’s race by using yesterday’s strategy,” he said.

While urging the youths to follow their passion, the renowned economists described success as a state of mind, adding that those who want success must start thinking of themselves as success.

“More than 80 per cent of humanity are trapped at the basic needs level. It is all in the mind; dream it, visualize it, meditate upon it, work on it and let thoughts of it envelop you every time, everyday; you will surely succeed. Take up one idea, make that one idea your life; think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success,” he said.

He urged young entreprenurs to always believe in themselves, adding, “Self-belief is key; always be yourself. Your attitude can sometimes become destiny; the only limit to your height of accomplishment is the extent of your dream. Avoid negative people; they bring you down to their level, distract you or slow you down. Iron sharpens iron,” he said.

On time management, Soludo hinted, “it’s your most important resources and you must deploy it for the most important things in your life. How long do you think you will live? How old are you now? How many more productive years do you have? What do you want to achieve? Why do you want long life? Most people cannot account for 70% of their life and what they did with it. Poverty is not enough excuse not to succeed; if you truly want to, persistence and focus will get you there. The harder the challenges, the higher the rewards; every disappointment is a blessing,” he said.

Speaking on Resetting the Mindset for a New Beginning, Prof Pat Utomi observed that where we are as a nation and what we are is not working. “We walked and worked our way into a recession, but a God of purpose may have intended it to wake us up,” he noted.

A highly motivated, results-oriented executive specialising in growth, turnaround, and value creation, Uche Ahubelem is a modern day businessman with wealth of experience in real estate, construction and mentorship. He is the GMD, C.E.O of Brickwall group of companies. His investments cut across a broad spectrum in real estate, construction, transport, Oil and Gas, Shipping and Entertainment.

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