‘Why I am passionate about mindset makeover for young entrepreneurs’

Mrs Oyenike Adeleke is the initiator of the Ibadan Enterprenuers Network, which is fast-becoming a hub for young entrepreneurs in the country. She spoke to ROTIMI IGE on why she will be bringing renowned motivators, the ‘Catalyst’, Lanre Olusola and Jimi Tewe, to Ibadan soon.

You are passionate about encouraging entrepreneurs in and around Oyo State, especially youths. What prompted the idea?

I got sick and tired of seeing unemployed graduates and nongraduates, who have potentials to be employers of labour but didn’t realise such. Ignorance is putting them at a disadvantage. So, I decided to create a platform for them to discover who they could be and what they can become. I decided to help enlighten then to recognise the fact that instead of looking for jobs, they can create job opportunities and become employers instead of employees. Everyone already has what they need to become, whatever it may be. Entrepreneurs are born, not made.

Tell us about some of the projects your Ibadan entrepreneurship network has accomplished?

It has been able to identify, showcase, celebrate and educate entrepreneurs in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. As part of our plans to accomplish our vision, we have organised some events, specifically made for entrepreneurs. Some of our events included an exhibition cum town hall meeting aimed at giving entrepreneurs the ability to learn in conference format; how to benefit from the Bank of Industry (BoI) credit facility for business owners, how to take advantage of the CBN/Entrepreneurship development training in improving their business acumen and thus improving their eligibility for CBN-assisted loans targeted towards SMEs. Also at the event, entrepreneurs were able to learn the rudiments and procedures of business name registration and incorporation, trained to understand basic tax returns procedures for businesses and business owners among others.

You also encourage aspiring entertainment entrepreneurs. Seeing that the entertainment industry is booming and has the potential to becoming a mega industry, how do you see upcoming artisans tap from the wealth of the industry?

I believe that entertainment entrepreneurs are able to harness the great wealth of the industry if only they can learn the business part of the industry. Every entrepreneur is capable of creating wealth and establishing a sounding business in their field. There is a part of entertainment that is an art and there is another where business acumen will be put into play. The business part of the industry, if well understood, will get more wealth than the talent itself.

You have a planned event tagged ‘Mindset Makeover’ featuring celebrated mentors like Lanre Olusola, Jimi Tewe, among others. Tell us about this event.

The Mindset Makeover holding on March 18, came from a yearning to change the mindset of entrepreneurs in Ibadan about certain beliefs that were sold to us about doing business in Ibadan. The city has the potential to produce thriving entrepreneurs, as long as we can see it. We have businesses that are thriving in Ibadan and it’s not because they are better but because they have changed their mindset about the city. Our brown roofs are not a thing of shame but a legacy that should be celebrated. Until we are proud to celebrate what we have and use it to our advantage, none other will see us or relate to us as such.

This event is aimed at changing our mindset in Ibadan, not shying away from the facts, but making visible the mistakes in our daily operations as business owners and channeling the course to a greater tomorrow. The historic heritage of the city and the brown roofs of this great city also present the obvious challenges of Ibadan dwellers. We are glad that these now pave way for new businesses and opportunities for the daring few.

What do you mean by Mindset makeover, especial as regards the present generation of youths.

There is the saying that Whatever you call your basket, that’s exactly how people will call it’. An average startup business owner in Ibadan has challenges doing business here because of the response they get from customers/clients. But I believe that the only reason they get such responses is because of these major facts; Presentation, branding, customer service to mention a few. Our attitude to business must change. We need to be more aggressive and take the bull by the horn. The only reason people will prefer products or services from neighbouring states is not because they are better than us, it’s simply because they have a different approach to business.