No fewer than 2,000 young entrepreneurs from different parts of Sokoto have participated in business display fair part of Global Entrepreneur Week (GEW).
The exercise was organized by 21st Century Entrepreneurs Hub, an NGO in partnership with Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria.
The entrepreneurs displayed a variety of goods and services they produced and the fair facilitated opportunities for sales, links and engagement partnerships.
Speaking to the newsmen at the premises on Monday, Malam Umar Idris, the Chairman of 21st Century Entrepreneurs Hub, urged young entrepreneurs to maximally explore business opportunities in Nigerian communities.
Idris said the weeklong 2023 Global Entrepreneurs Week was supported by Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria.
He described the theme of this year’s event as ” How Business Thrive” as apt which is an opportunity for small entrepreneurs to mingle, shares idea together as well as attract new customers for their business as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week being celebrated across 160 countries in the world.
He said the expo was being organised concurrently in Sokoto in the last six years and already extended to Kebbi, Zamfara and Niger states aimed at stimulating business growth.
” We engage on coaching young entrepreneurs, guide them and link them with possible markets and how to go about business activities, ” Idris said.
“This expo was to mark the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), meant to celebrate innovators and job creators who launch startups.
”GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.” he added.
Idris explained that these activities comprised large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.
“It also introduce them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities,” Idris added.
He also said the participants would be assisted in processing, branding and promoting their products and services.
According to him, no fewer than 2,000 entrepreneurs participated in the fair and more importantly more than 90 percent are women, which tally with our goal of empowering more women into active business engagements.
” 21st Century Entrepreneurs Hub being the anchors assist them with platform to showcase their products and services, as most of them run the businesses from their homes,” the chairman said.
The Chairman expressed appreciation for increased government support, especially in mobilizing people at the grassroots and enjoined citizens to maximally tap the opportunity.
He however called on well-meaning groups and government parastatals to support the hub in extending the programme beyond one day event which he said would be of utmost benefit to the residents of the State.
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