Experts charge youths on skill acquisition, innovativeness

 

By Rukayat Moisemhe

LAGOS - Some experts have advised young entrepreneurs to develop their skills and be  innovative to grow their businesses.

They gave the advice at a career and entrepreneurship workshop organised by the boys and girls brigade of Wesley Chapel, Lekki, recently in Lagos.

The Group Managing Director of Dipson Group, Mr Oladipo Bakare, stated the need for young entrepreneurs to have the right knowledge and tools  to drive their businesses.

According to him, businesses must advertise, create the right brand, package product distinctively and restructure when necessary.

He emphasised the need for business owners to acquire knowledge and have the   right mental attitude to create the right impression and engender sustainability.

He added that business registration and the right accounting system were important.

Bakare said that young businessmen and women  should be able to take advantage of  every situation to develop their businesses.

“Nigeria of today shows that it has become very critical to create multiple sources of income,  and the best you can do with your time and skill is to work for yourself; hence, entrepreneurship.

“Entrepreneurs must look for opportunities, identify them,” he said, adding that they should be courageous to take necessary risks.

“Entrepreneurs can re-purpose an already existing business by adding value through skill development.

“In business, you must not be afraid to ask for help; learn from those that have recorded successes in the area you have interest, and never be afraid of failure,” he said.

He said that failure should be a catalyst to achieve success.

“When you fail, it is not the end but something that can be used to achieve your aim in business,” he said.

The Managing Director of ILF Consulting Engineers,  Mr Abiodun Oshodi, emphasised the need for innovativeness.

He said that entrepreneurship was  important in every  industry.

Oshodi said that while education was  important, acquisition of a skill set was  very critical to adding value to any business endeavour.

“I urge everyone here to learn a skill, as skill is the easiest thing to transfer into entrepreneurship.

“Even in the financial technology space, you must acquire and develop a skill. Be innovative to stand out.

“I am not asking you not go to school, but apply an idea from a dream and a skill to give it a more competitive edge,” he said.

The Captain of Girls Brigade, Wesley church, Lekki,  Mrs Jumoke Solesi, urged discipline, hard work, punctuality and the right attitude to business, to engender growth.

Solesi also said that advertisement was  necessary for  business expansion.

The Captain of  the Boys Brigade of the chapel, Mr Taiwo Obasa, urged the youth to embrace emerging technologies.

He said that application of technologies would advance  business operations. 

(NAN)