How businesses can thrive in Nigeria, by entrepreneurs

SPEAKERS at The Platform, hosted by Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos, Poju Oyemade, yesterday, identified ways by which Nigerians could build wealth through entrepreneurship, ‘ intrapreneurship’ and other endeavours.

Tagged ‘ Wealth Builders’, this year’s edition witnessed three different namely 35.0: Entrepreneurship: Building a business from scratch; 35.1: Intrapreneurship: Engaging Senior and Middle managers and 35.2: Women in Business, Women in Tech in Lagos.

Founder and CEO of Zapphaire Events Group, Mrs. Funke Bucknor- Obruthe, urged prospective entrepreneurs to identify a problem and create a solution.

She said: “Learn to stay focused in your lane. Have a vision, you can’t underestimate the power of dreaming big. This is critical in your journey of entrepreneurship. It’s easy to get distracted and think you need to be like somebody else, but there is a need to persevere and carve a niche for yourself. Identify your market, innovate your business, and don’t stay stagnant. You must reinvent.”

Founder/ Creative Director, Ruff ‘ n’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi, stated that one would need to conquer self before conquering the work. She maintained that financial independence, especially for women, is non- negotiable, stressing the need to be excellent and exceptional in one’s chosen path.

“The power to choose is what determines the trajectory of your life. Not every business needs to start with millions of money. Start with what you have and grow through it,” Ogunlesi advised.

On his part, Osy Ibeneme stated that though not everybody could be an entrepreneur, everyone and anybody can be an intrapreneur.

He noted that the cycle of wealth begins with care, saying this is the bedrock of all innovation.

CEO and Owner of Kiza group, Joe Osawaye identified entrepreneurship as a calling, noting that the responsibility of adding value through solving problems has been handed to Nigerians.