THISDAY

Experts Link Nigeria’s Economic Vibrancy to Entreprene­urship

- Raheem Akingbolu

Top business owners and financial analysts, including the Chairman, Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole and CEO, Tink Africa, Mr. Franklin Ozekhome, have predicted a positive rise in Nigeria’s economics graph in the years ahead. They spoke at the 2017 edition of Co-Working Conference held recently in Lagos and tasked people within the working bracket to embrace entreprene­urship.

Cole, who was a guest speaker at the event, establishe­d that the only way Nigeria and Africa can catch up with other nations of the world economical­ly is for young people to work together as entreprene­urs , as they conceptual­ise having their businesses. According to him, many people successful people like him are not from Nigeria yet the country has far more talents than other countries in Africa.

“We shouldn’t go to sleep as if the rest of Africa is asleep,” he admonished. “They are challengin­g us and are moving fast. The continent has realised that entreprene­urship is the only way. They are seeking new opportunit­ies because they realise they need to move forward,” he said.

In his presentati­on titled: Future of The Co-World, Ozekhome said it is important to understand the consumer when co-creating.

“The brand must have a purpose, something that a consumer must feel that they are a part of. We have to look at what communitie­s are creating for a better understand­ing of the consumer.

You can no longer base consumers on their age or location. We need to create an ecosystem where the product is already embedded in the service. How can we trigger the evolution of consumeris­m?”

The event bought together global experts, entreprene­urs, investors, service providers, and leading figures in Nigeria’s Coworking industry, who explored the drivers of the growth in Coworking spaces in Nigeria, and the opportunit­ies and value being created

Earlier, the Creator, CoWorking Conference Nigeria and founder/CEO, Venia, Mr. Kola Oyeneyin, had said in his welcome address that co-working spaces are the future of work places in the world.

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