NAN-HE-7
Recession
By Olawunmi Ashafa
Lagos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Mr Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Founder of the Nigerian Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH), has called on entrepreneurs to develop strategies that would lead the country out of its current economic recession.
Ugwu-Oju made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at a news conference on the group’s forthcoming maiden summit tagged: “Nigerian Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH)”.
He said that the recession should not be seen as a hindrance, but rather as a spur to bring out the best in the entrepreneurs.
“It is fortuitous that NESH will commence when Nigeria is experiencing economic recession.
“NESH, as a platform, will be in the vanguard to mobilising entrepreneurs to lead the country out of the current recession.
“NESH will also be in the fore-front of promoting the patronage of made in Nigeria goods and services by the government and people of Nigeria.
“This will be based on the condition that the goods and services will be made in Nigeria for the world and not for Nigerians alone,’’ Ugwu-Oju said.
According to him, entrepreneurs should ensure that their products and services can compete favourably with other nations at the international market.
He said that the summit slated to hold from Nov.16 to 17 would address the state of the Nigeria economy from January 2016 to date and its impact on entrepreneurs.
Ugwu-Oju said that the summit would also feature plenary, round table session, presentation of 10 key projects initiated by Nigerian entrepreneurs, inaugural lecture and honors for outstanding entrepreneurs, among others.
He said that the objective of the discussion was to examine government policies that had worked as planned, those that had failed and needed to be discarded.
Ugwu-Oju said that NESH, being an annual event, would provide avenue for thought leadership and engagement, knowledge exchange, networking, bench-marking and appreciation of the contribution of entrepreneurs to the national development.
Also, one of the partners, Mr Peter Bankole, said that the forthcoming summit would afford Nigerian entrepreneurs the opportunity to suggest those to be nominated as “Entrepreneurs of the Year’’.
Bankole, the Director, Enterprise Development Centre, said that the organisation would provide no fewer than five years data on some of the young entrepreneurs operating in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late MKO Abiola, late Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, late Alhaji Wahab Folawiyo and late Mr Michael Ibru would be given posthumous awards as outstanding entrepreneurs in their various fields.
Others include the late Mrs Bisoye Tejuosho, late Mr Henry Fajemirokun, Mr Biodun Shobanjo, Mr Rasak Okoya, Chief Subomi Balogun, among others. (NAN)
AWA/EAL/GOK
(Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)
=============