Groups train youths on entrepreneurship

Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, in collaboration with Lagos Community Youth Volunteers Spread the Light, Love and Smile, have organised Youth Discovery Conference to inspire young people to become purposeful and productive entrepreneurs.

Youths, students, small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and jobseekers attended the event, themed, ‘Live from inside you to the outside world’.Convener of the conference, Maria Ayo Jegede, urged youths to know who they are, what are their purposes are, talents, skills and personalities, and how these can assist them find their bearing.
  
Another Speaker, author, public speaker and life coach, Mrs Nchekwube Oluye, charged youths to discover their passion, strengths, talents and do businesses that resonate with them.She pointed out that the government realised that they cannot empower entrepreneurs alone, hence the partnerships, and observed that most Nigerians follow pioneers of businesses and are successful, while others just delve into them without adequate knowledge or expertise, rather than concentrate on businesses they have passion for.Oluye, who added that the Internet is a huge market for business, urged participants to use the social media to project their businesses.

An Assistant Professor, and Director of Entrepreneurship, American University of Nigeria, Dr Lukman Raimi, emphasized the need to have good business plans and structures.He urged small business operators to employ the service of a financial manager if they can afford them to boost their businesses and use the social media to project their businesses and match solutions to needs.

Also speaking, ace comedian, Alibaba Akpobome, urged up-coming entrepreneurs to ensure that their businesses are able to compete with international standard, good quality, speedy delivery and packages.He disclosed that he has over 10 foreign role models and 200 mentors on different areas to boost his businesses and emotional intelligence, and charged them to do same.

Head of Finance, Yaba College of Technogy and finance coach, Dr Rotimi Ajibola, said good business plan, structure, location, target market and balanced financial standard are necessary to grow and strategise businesses.

He said in the current economy, some businesses have slowed down or were unable to cope with the attendant challenges, while others were able to weather the storm with sufficient funds, structures, innovative ability and strict adherence to business plans and processes.