Abuja, Nigeria – Mediaage NG News – Entrepreneurship is an undeniable catalyst for economic growth. It is one of the bedrocks for job creation, and community empowerment. There are many aspiring entrepreneurs who want to do something but, do not know the direction to take. They encounter huddles that include minimal access to capital, education, and resources.
The economic significance of startups extends opportunities to diverse talent pools that span across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, education, and many others.
This is one of the drivers that led to this year’s 360 Youth Conference, held on Saturday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Themed “Igniting Entrepreneurial Dreams For Sustainable Personal and Corporate Prosperity, the powerful event brought together exciting talented Nigerian speakers that not only reawakened the minds of young persons in attendance, it made them understand the simple path to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
The event was also an avenue for networking, to be utilised for the future, which according to Ella Obans, is to bring together young people who want to be intentional about life but, not sure where to go from where they are. The Convener said one of the objectives of the conference is to ensure that clarity is provided for youth intent on building a life.
“We are very intentional about this conference to ensure that every young person goes home with clarity on how to manage their emotions, run their businesses, manage and lead themselves and drive whatever God has placed on them. That is why it is almost free, she said.
“From the face of the participants, you could tell that they really got value for what they came for, they were transformed”, said Obans, who is also the founder of Writing and Personal Development Academy, known as Vita W.
You struggle when you copy others
Winifred Okafor, a CEO and business mogul, as the first speaker at the event, talked about young persons understanding themselves first before coming up with what to do. She said taking action, entails knowledge of what to produce.
“When you take action, you know what you are doing. Be consistent and not copy others but, think critically to produce your ideas that will make you unique, she disclosed.
“You struggle when you copy others, you waste resources. Copying someone is only allowed when you are intentional on growing yourself”, Winifred added.
The Enugu State born business lady also said being a CEO means allowing others to grow and not hiding appreciation of their efforts.
“When you treat people right, you won’t be harmed. Appreciation goes a long way, appreciate and celebrate your staff. When you celebrate people, you teach them to celebrate others and it makes the world a better place.
“You don’t announce yourself, your impacts and what you have upstairs (your mind) should. When someone is after you, know that you are the price. When people see you, they should see your qualities. If you are smart, you see opportunities others do not”, she stated.
Your strength should be on your wings to fly.
You must have something in you that can make you excel. You can achieve this by developing an ownership mentality at your workplace. Gone are the days of thinking not to get sacked, lay strong emphasis on skill security, not job security. No company can pay your worth.
These were the words of Obiora Kenneth, a Career Advisor and HR Professional. He said what makes a successful businessman is the ability to identify problems.
Kenneth Obiora
“Whatever your hands can lay onto, start from there, it will give you direction, he said.
“When you have solutions and value, you offer them. Your strength should not be dependent on the response you get from the society but, on your wings to soar higher. Your strength must be on your wings.
“Skills and talent give you clarity but, some of us have these skills but, don’t know how to use them. You must be willing to go through the process”, Mr. Obiora said.
Loans can make or mar your business.
Chukwudi Onyegbule, a value-driven, goal-oriented Chartered Accountant said as a business owner, there must be a concrete knowledge of how sales are coming in.
“You must have a strong financial discipline and strict financial planning (budgeting), he said.
“Loans can make or mar your business. Before looking for more finance for your business, you must set out your plans. When you mismanage your funds, your business is gone”, Mr. Onyegbule said.
When you don’t define yourself, others will.
According to Warren Bennis, emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, can make you a star. Life Coach and Author of the book “Don’t Waste Your Waiting”, Tunde Rhema who spoke on emotional intelligence, said it comprise the ability to manage one’s emotions, others emotions and the environment.
He said every company has its culture and values which represent its emotional state. He listed components of emotional intelligence to include empathy which entails thinking about others and how they feel. “As a business owner, learn more about your customers”, he said.
Rhema Tunde
He described social capital as a universal currency which goes beyond give and take but, give to impact lives. “You must be self aware, if you don’t define yourself, others will. Some persons think it is about give and take, why not give to those that can’t give you back”? He asked.
“You must be self motivational, you could lose everything but, never lose your mind. Prioritise your staff, be genuinely interested in their welfare.
“When you are able to change or improve your thinking, you improve your fortune “, Rhema added.
It’s a privilege to hold the mic.
Leadership and Productivity Strategist, Val Okafor, during his session at the conference said one of the ways to build relationships is by networking. “If you want to network, you should be driven by ‘how can I add value to you’? Networking does not stop at exchanging complimentary cards”, he stated.
Speaking on ‘The Power of Building Connections’, he said mentorship is key as it gets you up the ladder and eliminates errors. “When you want your Elijah to locate you, your appearance is important. Appear as someone that is ready to be invested in. When your head is in the right direction, you do not need to bother about where you are headed, Mr. Okafor said.
You may not be able to pay your way to the top but, you can serve your way to get there”, he added.
He also said to build relationships, one must be good at public speaking, “a powerful tool”.
“It’s a privilege to hold the mic, don’t live to impress but, live to express”, he concluded.
Be transformational minded and not transactional.
Abraham Orukpe, a Business Coach and Consultant, spoke on discipline that connects vision to reality. He said discipline builds consistency which breeds clarity.
He said, there are two ways to get to those at the top, either you buy your way or serve your way to them. “Begin to turn down the volume of your prioritizing money”, he stated.
“Understand when you are been stretched or used. Being stretched strengthens your capacity, being used reduces your value.
“Build yourself so people can become favor debtors, not money debtors to you.
“Be transformational minded and not transactional minded. When you are transformational minded, you build favor debtors but, when you are transactional minded, you only build money debtors”, Mr. Orukpe said.
He added that becoming a successful entrepreneur or a business person depends on the approach employed. “Is it through cost or value approach”? He asked.
“You must learn to apply the Pareto(Vilfredo) principle. Many of us spend time doing an 80 percent task to get a 20 percent result.
“It is difficult to pull out from habits, that is what addiction does. Know where you belong and have peace”, he continued.
“Access to people is not equality. Mentorship can be gotten from your age-grade, not necessarily from those above you. Look for people that produce results, not by status”, he concluded.
Move and people will follow you.
Certified Leadership Coach and Expert, Elisha Mamman said understanding creates deep value. “If you have never led yourself, you cannot lead others. When you understand yourself, you become a person of deep value”, he stated.
He said personal leadership is a process and does not come instantly. “It’s a body of knowledge.
“The rule of leadership is to stand up and take a step. Move and people will follow you”, Mr. Elisha added.
Explaining the characteristics that make a leader, he emphasized on Awareness, Habits, Expertise, Attitude and Discipline (AHEAD), stating that where there is expertise, it will be difficult to lack money.
The event had presentation of awards to outstanding personalities thriving in their respective areas of mastery.