The United States Consulate has stressed the need for the federal government to tap into its youthful population as its greatest resource towards achieving a more prosperous nation and being among leading nations of the world.
Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate, Russell Brooks, made this call at a conference for Emerging Entrepreneurs, held at Ibadan Business School, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
He stressed that it was high time Nigeria moved from being a single commodity economy to one capable of inventing new products and services that will be attractive to markets around the world.
This, Brooks said, will be achievable if governments give more support to entrepreneurs and their strides.
Consequently, Brooks charged entrepreneurs to be willing to take risks, remain steadfast in their beliefs so as to surmount doubts and obstacles.
“You may ask why is the U.S. government interested in supporting entrepreneurs, especially in Africa. That’s a good question and I believe I have a good answer. My answer is that we believe you represent the future of this continent.
“We believe that Nigeria’s people, especially its young people, are its greatest resource and they can produce a more prosperous future for Nigeria, one less dependent on a single commodity, instead one capable of inventing new products and services that will be attractive to markets around the world, producing the growth, jobs, and incomes that will enable Nigeria to take its rightful place among the leading nations of the world.
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“The men and women who remain steadfast in their beliefs, no matter the doubts of others, no matter the obstacles, have what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur,” Brooks said.
He asserted the commitment of the US government to supporting entrepreneurs having trained over 500 Nigerians as well as through the Young Africans Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Chief Executive Officer, Field of Skills and Dreams Academy, Mrs Omowale Ogunrinde, in her remarks, urged Nigerians to tap into the opportunities here in the country rather than craving for green pasture abroad.
Ogunrinde pointed to success stories of Nigerians who had succeeded as entrepreneurs in hospitality, blogging, agriculture, hotel and catering management, digital entrepreneurship as evidence that the land is green.
In declaring the event open, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said passion, creativity, resilience were critical tools in succeeding as an entrepreneur.
Noting that developed economies around the world were driven by entrepreneurs and technology, Ajimobi said the nation must drive towards promoting entrepreneurs that will create more jobs and bring down unemployment.
He further admonished entrepreneurs to possess a positive mental attitude, be assertive and adaptive, be innovative, focused, visionary, realistic, ingenious, disciplined, logical, creative and trailblazers.
The event was attended by successful and budding entrepreneurs across various fields.
Ifedayo O. Ogunyemi
Senior Reporter,
Nigerian Tribune
ogunyemiifedayo@gmail.com
