Behind every successful business is an idea. Some seem simple; others are not. Josephine Okere is helping businesses and entrepreneurs translate their ideas into winning ventures, writes Daniel Essiet.

A graduate  of Marketing from Federal Polytechnic , Nekede, Imo State, Josephine Okere ‘s main skill is getting the best from  individuals and organisations . She gets paid for driving innovative ideas into successes.

Her job is to help startups and entrepreneurs translate ideas into businesses and services.

She started the business with N1000. “The idea for my business came out of my passion of writing alongside marketing. My passion for executing ideas makes me to dabble into innovation consulting,” she said.

Today, her satisfaction is derived from her numerous clients’ successes. She can build a business from words of mouth, once she is told by clients, colleagues and friends.

Beside floating ideas, Okere has also found a market where she helps people appraise and rewrite their resumes. What is more, she provides coaching for those searching for a career advancement opportunity. What she does is to help applicants to take their skill sets and position them on their resumes convincingly for employers.  The demand for professional curriculum vitae (CV) is huge.  As competition for most jobs is high, jobseekers are keen to have the best CV possible.  Young applicants and executives need their CVs to be updated from time to time, so there’s regular demand.  She shows candidates which resumes’ styles work best in various disciplines spanning several industries and corporate cultures.

Her dedication to her clients is her greatest asset.  She takes the time to know her clients and retool their resumes to allow prospective employers get a view of their skills and achievements.

On the challenge, she said: “I will say some of my failures are not meeting up to deadline when we are at peak seasons, due to staff strength.”

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Faced with the economic downturn and rising production costs, many micro entrepreneurs are closing down their businesses; others are struggling to stay afloat, reports Daniel Essiet.

THESE are not the best of times for micro businesses. They are feeling the pains of rising costs of operation that has reduced their profit margins. The costs are associated with limited access to raw materials such as imported chemicals. Added to this is the high cost of sourcing foreign exchange (forex) which has worsen the plight of the small business owners.

The Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN) President, Comrade Saviour Iche, said small business owners were switching away from Nigeria to Benin Republic and Ghana  as rising labour, raw material and energy costs make local production more expensive and finished goods uncompetitive.

According to estimates, 70 per cent of the private sector operates in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Over 40 per cent of these are also estimated to be involved in light manufacturing, such as soap and cosmetics production that require use of vital chemicals.

Iche said the cost of raw materials had gone up, thereby increasing their operational costs as well as affecting production capacity.

He said various chemical raw materials have had a sharp price rise, adding that some raw materials’ prices had risen from N3000 to N15, 000 in the last one year.  Due to shortage of raw materials on the local market, most businesses are forced to import from abroad and this requires getting forex to import them. He appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make forex available for  chemicals sellers to import and sell to SMEs producing household  and personal care items.

He explained that electricity costs for businesses had increased by 100 per cent, the biggest in the past two years.

However, Iche is only one of thousands of entrepreneurs and SMEs operators, who found business life  difficult.  Because of this, most members of AMEN in small manufacturing businesses, according to him, had plans to expand their business, including reducing staff and business scales. The cost of SME credit,   he noted, is on the upward swing, as evidenced by the increase in nominal interest rates charged to SMEs.  For instance, an average loan is within 23 and 28 per cent. The trend towards higher costs of credit, according to him, was accompanied by a continued high level of collateral requirements, which remained higher than.

He said: “Where do you expect a micro business operating in a room to get a C of O?”

The founder of Jubilant Family Industries Limited Frederick Nwokeleme said access to appropriate funding sources had been much harder for SMEs. The financial conditions of many SMEs, he added, is  weakened by the drop in demand for goods and services and the credit tightening.

Improving SMEs access to finance, he added, should be a priority  as it is inhibiting the growth of SMEs.

To promote healthy growth of SMEs, Nwokeleme, canvassed  that  development plans  should  include productivity enhancement, capacity development, concessional business regulatory environment, and technology adaptation to innovative SMEs.

According  to him,  raw material prices are getting higher and are not available in the market at fair prices, adding that increasing the local production would create clusters of job opportunities.

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A GROUP Street Project Foundation has inducted 100 youths into its Creative Youth Boot Camp in Onikan, Lagos.

Its founder/Chief Executive Officer Mrs Rita-Ezenwa-Okoro said while in camp, the youth would hone their skills in drama, visual arts, poetry, creative writing, spoken word, custom, dance, music, among others.

‘’The curriculum has been designed to empower young people with the skills necessary to turn their talent into an enterprise,’’ she said, adding that when idle youths were not engaged, a nation runs the risk of breeding criminals that would be threat to it.

She said the trainees were picked from low-income groups, adding they were selected from a shortlist of 600, after a rigorous screening.

She noted that the performing arts could be a thriving industry that creates wealth and jobs. ‘’The expected outcome is that our youths will start up a creative enterprise or get a job in the creative industry and will have a clear direction of what they want to achieve in life. We have proof of this, through some of the success stories of our ambassadors,’’ she said.

She cited Josh Alfred, also called Joshfunny, an ambassador of the group, who was discovered as a comedian. After training and mentorship, is a now Social Media sensation.

Mrs Ezenwa-Okoro argued that skills training that assist the youth to move from job seekers to job creators could reduce the rate of unemployment.

Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment Permanent Secretary Dr Yakub Olajide Basorun said the government had floated a N25-billion Employment Trust Fund for Lagosians, urging the trainees to avail themselves of its numerous merits after their camping. He said one needed not know anyone before applying, saying any applicant stood the chance of being given a loan, if the conditions were met.

United States Department of States Deputy Public Officer Frank Selin said his country was proud to be associated with Street Project Foundation, saying that the US sponsored some of the group’s programmes.

He enjoined other groups to apply, if they needed help. He agreed that the training would help to reduce unemployment.

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A shoka Anglophone West Africa Regional Director, Josephine Nzerem, is a business motivator who can impart knowledge to entrepreneurs who want to join the baking industry.

After graduation, she did her National Service at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos in the Management department, where she was in charge of bookings and theatre design. At the end of the national assignment, she tried hard to get a job, but because she had just  married, no one hired her for fear that she would be going on maternity leave.

Eventually, she decided to start a bakery. Her business was successful, and soon she started to supply banks and other organisations with pastries. The  business model, she found, was flexible and profitable.

She is a success story in bakery business.The experience was inspiring and eye-opening, and it became the catalyst that got her truly thinking differently. Since then, she explored many roles.

Over time, she discovered she was made to be a mentor. This is reflected in her empathetic, values-driven persistence in finding ways of making it possible for women to learn and be prepared for business opportunities.

According to her, empowering women through income generating activities helps them become independent, respected individuals in their communities.  Subsequently, she became part of a wave of social entrepreneurs identifying root causes for the youth employment challenges and developing innovative solutions. Her  dream fits the aspirations of Ashoka, a global organisation that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs — individuals with innovative and practical ideas for solving social problems.

She joined Ashoka. Nzerem was elected an Ashoka Fellow in 2002 for her innovative work in the protection of women from disinheritance and other socio-economic abuses. In 2004, she received an award from Junior Chambers International as the outstanding young person for the year, in contribution to children, world peace and/or human rights.

In 2011, she became the Regional Director of Anglophone West Africa for Ashoka, Innovators. In that role, she worked tirelessly towards creating an ‘’Everyone a Changemaker’’society by inspiring various communities in Anglophone West Africa to take the initiative to solve social problems. She is also inspiring the Anglophone West Africa team to embody a high standard of excellence, innovation and commitment. She has been recently named the Director, Venture and Fellowship, Ashoka Africa.

According to her, Ashoka fellows have  success stories building flourishing  businesses  in agriculture, tech, governance and civic engagement, employment  and  youth engagement.

One of the approaches is to create a model that identifies and strengthens local assets, placing members of the community at the centre of sustainable long-term solutions as stakeholders, patrons, and owners.The model meets the needs of the youth and the entrepreneurs at the same time. The youth gain marketable skills through their work experience and an introduction to positive role models. The entrepreneurs gain access to a pool of potential employees and have the opportunity to prepare youth for career paths of their choice.

She wants  to connect successful business entrepreneurs and professional people with the concepts around social entrepreneurship.

For her, social entrepreneurs define the new roadmaps that allow people to thrive in this new environment, while providing solutions and demonstrating the how-tos.

According to her, Ashoka engages the world’s largest and most powerful network of social entrepreneurs by searching for and selecting the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.

She explained that Ashoka searches the world for leading social entrepreneurs through an intensive, human-centered process, selecting them into its fellowship of peers. The process of selection is a transformative and enlightening experience.

Candidates articulate their innovations, and how they have the potential to change sector-wide systems. They scrutinise their strategies and methods, and reflect on how they engage as individuals and leaders in today’s world. The selection process is not simply a means to an end, but rather generates robust discussion, sharpens ideas, and gives room for a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Where do you see yourself and Ashoka in 10 years? 20 years? Her words: “I expect that in the next 10-20 years Ashoka will continue to grow ever more effective as an agent of change in Africa and other continent. In the next 10-20 years I intend to continue championing the cause of social entrepreneurship in Africa because I believe that it is one of the most potent tools to lift Africa into greater development.”

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Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, PayPorte Technologies Limited, Eyo Bassey, is a man of many parts—techie, entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

He is one of the most successful e-commerce entrepreneurs.   Whether it was his strong work ethic, never-give-up attitude or advice to just believe in him, Bassey is proud to say that the first support to start his business came from his mother.His mother, a civil servant, saved money to get him a computer, which he dismantled and coupled.

Without her encouragement and belief in him, Bassey said he would not have been able to live his dream. Bassey started his first business venture at 21. Raised in the Federal Capital Territory, he was conferred with the best student award in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASCE).

Bassey gained admission to the University of Ilorin where he studied Civil Engineering  and bagged a Masters in Applied Physics from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

After establishing himself as a developer, he was given the contract by a state government to develop a  software for revenue collection. He introduced the e-receipt system to the government. But to execute the  contract, he needed money.

To raise funds from the bank for the job, his mother allowed him to use their house. He has since proven himself as a risk taker, founding various companies and  established   online retail shopping platform – PayPorte.

Launched in 2014, Payporte was the first to launch a 1k Store in the industry to support its customers through the economic downturn.

He started  the business  with about $100,000. He founded PayPorte at the peak of the first dot-com boom. Few entrepreneurs dared to expand into several markets, while they were in their early stages. But  he  took that plunge headlong.  It is now a highly-valued business. The launch of  payPorte  can, in some ways, be explained as the distillation of many  experiences. Bassey is a successful tech entrepreneur  and  has built an enviable portfolio. He  has been ahead of others in encouraging firms to pivot—refine or change their business models.His investments include online marketplace , logistics provision and ordering app,  among others. At Payporte, he  has built an e-commerce firm that is capital-efficient than most other Nigerian  e-commerce brands.

Despite the success of PayPorte, Bassey  maintained  that it is still morning for e-commerce in the country. He should know; he launched the company in Abuja  before  relocating to Lagos. He has seen it all—the dot-com boom and the challenge of foreign- funded ecommerce firms coming into the market. But he persevered. He is not afraid to change gears and has an uncanny ability to see beyond the short-term, and though pressure is high at the moment, his clarity of vision allows him to consider the more significant lasting effect of decisions.

Bassey is hands-on as well,  as it  involves software development  and consulting for other organisations.  He has spent the last four years as the founder/CEO Rom-Flex Technologies, increasing and expanding the business in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Most notable is the ‘Roll-Out Immigration e-Passport, setting up the largest e-library and e-learning hub in East Africa (MUBS Uganda)

According to him, Nigeria is a large consumer market and its openness is very exciting—it allows players to come to in and push the boundaries of innovation.

He believes that e-commerce is the future of retail and it will play a big role in Nigeria.

According to him, the toughest thing about being an entrepreneur is to contend with the choices of what to sacrifice: “You surely can’t have your cake and eat it when you are bootstrapping a business, so making choices and being comfortable in your own skin about the decisions you make are essential.”

Startup Grind Lagos’ Chapter Director, Uwem Uwemakpan, said the forum was held to highlight and proffer solutions to challenges the Lagos entrepreneur faces.

Regional Programme Manager, Techpreneur Africa,Teleola Adegoke, urged young entrepreneurs to seek capacity building opportunities to enable them grow their businesses in the face of challenges.

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To usher in the next generation of change agents and leaders, the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is providing opportunities for youths to gain practical experience and entrepreneurial skills. This will, in turn, support youths to innovate, improve their commercial viability and catalyse economic transformation. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

THE Sabo Industrial area,Yaba, Lagos State, has been a leading player in the tech entrepreneurship industry by virtue of its strong technological background and capabilities. A crop of innovative startup entrepreneurs is filling up the area’s tech space.

From applications aiming to automate small businesses, localised software to check for computer viruses, to mobile phone-based solutions that might put an end to chaotic elections, the mobile technology scene is simmering with activities, churning out solutions that can solve Nigeria’s and Africa’s challenges.

Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said the development of related industries in Yaba had also led to the creation of business opportunities and value-added services.  These include facilities that meet all industrial needs, such as online processing and services, virtual businesses, collaboration, e-commerce and large-scale data analysis and application.

To this end, Durosinmi-Etti said the government would transform Yaba to a hub for technology and assist the already-established technology incubators in the area to achieve their potential. Some of the technology outfits in the area include Ardela, IDEA and Co-creation Hub (CC Hub). For instance, CcHUB is Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space designed to be a multi-functional, multi-purpose space where work to catalyse creative social tech ventures take place. The hub is a place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, impact investors and hackers in and around Lagos to co-create new solutions to the many social problems in Nigeria.

The rapid development of Yaba, the  Commissioner believes, would help accelerate the proliferation of new technologies; as such development would likely become an important issue in ensuring competitiveness. In line with this aspiration, the state government is partnering the Stanford University’s Graduate Business School and a select  stakeholders to develop and transform the city into a technology hub.

The initiative, driven by the state government, is expected to, upon completion, revolutionise Yaba, identified as Nigeria’s tech city, into the country’s equivalent of Silicon Valley- a hub for technology entrepreneurs in the United States of America.

According to him, the government is ready to provide incentives to attract investments to the industry.

With the promise of governmental support to ensure uninterrupted utilities and efficient internet, the Commissioner said there were various special incentives for the investors, adding that Yaba ICT has become one of the priority projects for the government.

He  said the ministry was training tradesmen and artisans to enhance their productivity and upgrade their skills.

According to him, the government  is working  to  give skill training to the artisans in that informal industrial sector to help them meet modern challenges in the industry.

He said the state is set to establish incubation centres to nurture ideas into sustainable businesses in the five divisions in the state.

He added that the government is offering its support to small and medium companies and that it is leaving no stone unturned to creating a conducive environment to pave way for a flourishing industry.

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The Federal Government is pushing for the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the country to achieve sustained long-term economic growth.  It was one issue that attracted attention at a one-day workshop on nation building organised by Apostles in the Market Place (AiMP), a platform for change agents in Lagos, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Addressing widespread poverty is  one of the most-impor-

tant policy challenges facing Nigeria.

Not only is poverty high when benchmarked against countries in Asia, but also the rate of poverty reduction has been slow. This was the concern of participants at a nation- building workshop in Lagos, which held at the Civil Centre, Victoria Island.

The forum was organised by Apostles In The Market Place (AiMP), a network of Christian professionals and leaders in the marketplace who are committed to making a lasting impact on society.

The focus of the workshop was positioning for economic recovery. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, was the keynote speaker.

Enelamah  noted that achieving the goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity would require unprecedented efforts by the government to unleash private sector-led growth.

This partnership, he added, is strengthened in the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP)  launched by the government, saying ERGP further reinforces the thrust on entrepreneurship through trade and investment to achieve the government’s goal of economic development and job creation.

Based on the plan, measures for macro-economic stability, employment, trade and investment, agribusiness, power-sector reforms, infrastructure, competition, science and technology, and anti-corruption, are being pursued to strengthen the nation’s competitiveness and contribute to job creation.

Reaffirming its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship as a key driver of growth and development, Enelamah said it is the government’s goal to reduce poverty by  pushing economic growth  and  spreading  the payback of its huge economic turnaround among the people.

He said SMEs have been at the core of the economic transformation and is an important driver of employment and growth, pointing out that the government is focused on easing access to finance, implementing a better regulation agenda and encouraging small and medium scale eniterprises (SMEs) investment in new technologies or markets.

One of the goals  of the government, according to him, is to improve   infrastructure. He said the government was putting emphasis on SMEs given the sector’s role in allowing the country to achieve inclusive growth.

Chair Centre Group Chief Executive and FirstBank Nigeria Plc) Chairman, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, said the education system churns out thousands of graduates yearly – this manpower advantage underpins the economic advances since liberalisation, but masks deep-seated problems within its education system.

While  this is seen as an advantage, Mrs Awosika  noted that it has not succeeded much in equipping promising young Nigerians. She stressed the need to revamp the educational system to support the skills needs of the key sectors.

She called on the government to ensure that all the relevant partners were working to achieve a common goal and that this is reflected in the investments in skills development and to help people out of universities to secure jobs.

To ensure continued SMEs growth and contribution to the economy, a former Minister of Communication Mrs. Omobola Johnson advised the government to encourage the private sector to develop a pool of skilled personnel, who can be absorbed in the market and get better at closing the productivity gap to be globally competitive.

According to her, economic opportunities linked to SMEs are also significant: ICT and mobile technology sectors are growing rapidly, adding that technology space SMEs can tap into a big  market.

To unlock their potential within the system, she noted there was still  work to be done to help address issues  that prevent SMEs from becoming the engines of growth that the international economy needs.

Other panelists discussed strategies for the development of the economy while sharing ideas on how entrepreneurs can leverage these and grow their organisations successfully. These include Chief Executive RTC Advisory Services Ltd, Opeyemi Agbaje; Managing Partner, Sahel Capital, Mezuo Nwuneli; and Founder LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli.

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A journalist, Blessing Ime Affia, is charting a new path in palm oil business, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

With a thriving business, the Founder, Chief Executive, Hebron Eagle Palm Enterprise, a subsidiary of Hebron Eagle Communication, Blessing Ime Affia’s  climb to the top is an inspiration to many budding entrepreneurs.

She speaks of her dissatisfaction with her job as a reporter. It was there she discovered her interest in business that has led to self-sufficiency.

A graduate  of Mass Communication, she was a newscaster and producer with DBN Television. She was interested in something that would make her financially and economically independent. Her motivation to start her own business began when she realised she was not getting fulfilment in journalism.

Her words: “I have worked with various media houses, such as  NTA 2 Channel 5, where I basically learnt what media was all about, worked with Silver Bird Television as an Assistant Producer and a reporter for the day’s news bulletin. I also worked with Galaxy TV as a presenter and producer for women’s programme (Woman-to-Woman) and also Children’s programme (Tara-tata- The Children’s playhouse), which I designed. But before then, I worked with the old DBN as a newscaster and reporter.

She continued: ‘’Hebron Eagle Palm Enterprise -A subsidiary of Hebron Eagle Communication – started when I realised that I was practically not being fulfilled as a journalist at that time.

‘’Not being fulfilled in media haunt, I settled into full-time business in agriculture where I used Hebron Eagle Palm Enterprise as a  subsidiary to my Hebron Eagle Communication company which I initially registered.”

She said: “About two and half years, after I started, it appeared there was no direction but going to FATE Foundation, my business ideas were restructured and my mind was and still is adventurous, reading daily and widely to get more information about palm oil and agriculture as a whole.“

She is another success. She began the business from her kitchen table in a rented house. She started small. ”I started with N20, 000. I had to call my mum to ask what it would take to start the business and that I would not mind sending that amount immediately and she obliged. In fact, when the “consignments”came, I was filled with joy.”

Today, the business is striving. “The worth of my business? I will say, is growing. There is an ongoing restructuring at the factory at home. NAFDAC is playing a dominant role. I am trying to get my acts together to do real work.”

Her challenges: “My failure was not getting funds when I needed it, but I realised it is not all about getting the money but with adequate structures on ground, it will help facilitate the business and create value in the lives of others. I see failures as welcome alternative to growing my entire being greatly.”

The business is moving from the kitchen table to the factory floor. Currently, the company has a work force of  seven.  Palm oil has been the flagship product of the company.

It has been the bane of its success. Her business has benefited from unquestioned loyalty borne out of mutual trust. However, as the business   continues to grow, its future success hinges on the diversification of the sector. Right now, she believes she is  yet to realise the full potential of  the  industry.

She is hoping to expand her agro- based product lines to increase productivity, boost income and improve standard of living. She believes failure is just as important as success. While she admits there is plenty of hard knocks, she is confident her gamble will pay off in the long-term.

Her joy: “Well, like I always tell my best friend, who is one major source of my daily joy and monitors my growth daily, I am my best friend every second. I look behind today and say that my late dad will be applauding me daily because this was one dream he nurtured systematically when we relocated to the village from Lagos in the early ‘90s before he passed on December 22,1998.

I am daily fulfilled because people are pleased with the product and satisfied when it brings out that correct taste in your Edikang Ikong Soup,Afang,Atama …and so on. Most especially I am happier when the women who produce the product are happier to be part of the joy of others.”

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The Coordinator, SMEs MEET, Mr. Bassey Etim, has said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development is critical to achieving the goal of the transformation agenda, urging the government to ensure a conducive business environment, and support investors.

He spoke of the need to create a vibrant, inclusive and holistic business environment for all industries, including micro-enterprises.

According to him, Nigeria needs to remove the obstacles which hinder the ease of doing business as these are crucial for businesses to prosper.

He reiterated that a strong growth engine for the nation is the rise in SMEs.

Etim   said SMEs MEET is organising a forum to address the challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Akwa Ibom State and in the Niger Delta region.

Scheduled to hold between June 7 and 9 at the Ibom E-Library, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the enrepreneurs are expected to share and contribute their expertise and resources to help local SMEs to grow, develop and sustain their businesses.

He announced the SMEs Bright Awards planned to recognise outstanding small businesses in the state with the objective of celebrating and exposing their products and services to the state and beyond.

He stressed the importance of SMEs in economic development and receive the benefits from the various programmes and plans implemented by the government.

Etim added that SMEs have an opportunity to secure funding, as well as network and form partnerships and joint ventures with investors at the forum.

He said the forum was an opportunity for them to make strong partnership that will benefit both parties.

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The rapid growth of the large and small manufacturing sector has boosted demand for logistics services. However, the local logistics sector has failed to fully meet the demand. An entrepreneur, Yomi Jones, has urged enterprises to explore such opportunities, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

The Managing Director of Six Continent Travels and Tours Ltd, Mr. Yomi Jones, is one of the boldest entrepreneurs, changing the game in the industry. He represents the optimism, inventiveness and boldness of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs.

He has not just questioned the conventional wisdom but answered it with fiery and risky business undertakings. He has inspired every young Nigerians to not shy away from breaking the status quo, rewriting the rules and transforming the world.

According to him, an increasing number of consumers want to build goods on time and the market for delivery is becoming ever more competitive.

Jones observed a notoriously slow system. But  he  identified opportunities and is urging Nigerians to take advantage in the system and make money.

The logistics sector, as demand increases, Jones maintained, was in need of better quality services to seize the potential on offer.

He explained that there is a wide scope of opportunities for Nigerians in the fields of logistics, trucking, warehousing, and food processing, cold storage and supply chain business, among others.

As a major exporter of agricultural produce and marine products, he said the sector is seeing increasing demand for climate-control transportation and cold-chain logistics.

In recent years, Nigeria’s agricultural exports have risen significantly.

The transportation and storage of perishable goods, he noted, requires proper packaging, temperature control and monitoring in order to ensure food safety and quality.

In this regard, he added that there was considerable development potential for cold-chain logistics and related facilities, such as temperature-controlled warehouses and distribution centres.

To keep shelves stacked and meet same or next-day delivery obligations, according to him, businesses have to work with logistics businesses to fill the gap.

With the emergence of local distribution hubs around the country to fulfill the increasing consumer demand for 24-hour delivery deadlines, Jones said the sector needs more service providers to ensure they continue to have the edge in a constantly changing environment.

The ability to see the opportunities puts small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an advantageous position.

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NO fewer than 100 Nigerians have received vocational tools from District 9110 of Rotary International.

They include sewing machines, dryersand  makeup equipment.

Speaking at the presentation last week at Rotary Centre in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the District Governor Patrick Ijehon Ikheloa said the empowerment was part of the programmes he promised during his inauguration last year.  He said the beneficiaries, who were youths, women and widows, were selected from all the clubs in the district, adding that they were trained in nine courses, which include catering, fashion designing, events planning and make ups.

He said over N4million was spent on the items, adding that the money was raised from donations and members.

A representative of the Rotary International President David Roper said the association has one main project: service to humanity. Besides, he said members also contribute to economic development, noting that empowerment was part of it. He advised the beneficiaries to exhibit their talents and support their families with it.

Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation representative Mrs Funmi Goodluck praised Rotary for the gifts. She said: “When you empower a woman, you empower the world,’’ and that this could have a spiral effect on domestic violence reduction. She advised the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously. ‘’We want to hear your success stories,’’ she charged them.

Mrs Chima Okoro, who spoke on ‘how to run business sustainably’, said having a skill was different from running a business. She listed business errors as poor record keeping and management, lack of experience and marketing, non-innovation, and poor knowledge of the market and customers.

She urged the beneficiaries to adopt a winning strategy; without it, he warned, the business would fail

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) South-South Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SS-EDC) is driving a programme to help youths learn new skills to create micro enterprises, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Treating more productive jobs is a major challenge for national development.

This is because young people have the hardest time finding new jobs, and establishing new businesses to boost economic growth.

With Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate, skills are at the core of improving individuals’ employment outcomes and increasing potential for business productivity and growth.

To experts, providing skills training is one way the government can help young people secure jobs.

To address this, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) South-South Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SS-EDC) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, is training young people to become entrepreneurs.

The centre runs programmes that expose youths to business opportunities, assists them in accessing financial resources and markets and getting the necessary accreditation, and encourages them to make economic decisions. The technical training is supplemented with business advice and training.

From the programme, CBNSS-EDC  has graduated 488 entrepreneurs.

A breakdown of their business plans shows that 398 are into agricultural business value chain while the remaining 90 business plans are spread across hospitality, ICT, trading, manufacturing, services and lifestyle.

CBN Branch Controller, Cross River State, Mr. Graham Kalio, expressed delight at the harvest of seeds sown by  the bank and the fact that some of the graduating students have started businesses and making profits.

He reiterated that CBN operates in the consciousness that the country’s economy cannot move forward unless MSMEs are supported to thrive and create jobs, and the event is a testimony to that position.

He advised the entrepreneurs to always remain creative, and that it is only through innovation, that business owners can create an edge for their businesses.

He charged the graduating participants to adopt the right attitude towards business funds when made available ensuring maximum accountability.

He condemned the prevalent undisciplined culture towards finance which makes beneficiaries spend loans on things that are irrelevant to the business like marriage, drinking and extravagant lifestyle.

SS-EDC Programme  Director, Mr. Gbenga Owolabi, charged the entrepreneurs to hit the road with a tenacity of purpose, following through the plans they had articulated.

He said: “We have worked out how to support each other, challenge set mindset, and break the bonds of waiting for solutions, understanding that with creative thinking, working as a team and accepting our differences, we are a dynamic force that can bring about the birth of a new Nigeria”.

During his keynote address on “Entrepreneurship and the Value Mandate”, the founding pastor, The Brook Church, Calabar, Pastor Ose Imiemohon, said a man defined 21st century entrepreneurship as jumping out of an aircraft without a parachute and having to build on mid-air to keep him from crashing.

According to him, “the ability to find opportunity in problems is what defines an entrepreneur and only outstanding entrepreneurs who are constantly coming up with innovation will survive”.

While testifying to the impact of SS-EDC programme on their lives and business, a rice farmer, Mr. Bassey Itu, said he learnt the importance of product packaging which has helped his business tremendously and thanked SS-EDC and CBN for coming up with Anchor borrower’s scheme for rice farmers which has increased productivity and will soon lead to food sufficiency.

Another former participant, Mr. Ignatius Okon, said he started fish farming after taking part in the SS-EDC programme. He now produces three batches of fish yearly.

Another rice farmer, Mr. Akpanke Effiong said joyfully that he now farms three hectares of rice farm and humorously pointed out that he was itching to be at the farm due to the business ethics of dedication which he learned at SS-EDC.

The event ended with a fashion display from selected fashion designers who are beneficiaries of the SS-EDC programme.

The SS-EDC over the years have trained over 9442 participants out of which 3560 businesses have  been established and expanded, creating a total of 9,816 direct and indirect jobs.

The centre has assisted 3035 entrepreneurs to access over N1.6 billion ranging from N50,000 to N10 million.

The post CBN promotes entrepreneurship in Calabar appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

They are budding women entrepreneurs with the passion to turn business ideas into reality. Their determination to succeed, against all odds, has paid off. Today, they are role models to other aspiring women entrepreneurs. They shared their success stories during the African Women Power (AWP) Network tagged “Get Connected Business Series” in Lagos.

Founder, Easyshope-asycook.com, an online groceries business, Mrs Saudat Salami, is on her way to building a business empire. Already, her  company is the toast of customers far and near, seeking fast, convenient and cost-effective grocery shopping experience.

When The Nation met the successful woman entrepreneur  cum master trainer at the African Women Power (AWP) Network tagged:  “Get Connected Business Series”, held in Lagos, recently, she said  she started the business with the aim of providing support to working women, who may find it difficult managing their homes and work life.

Mrs Salami was guest speaker at  the forum, which was  created  to provide insights and information needed to help entrepreneurs and employees grow and get to the next level. The entrepreneur, who   pioneered online grocery business in Nigeria, said her company, EasyshopEasycook.com, delivers fresh groceries to customers’ doorsteps.

Although, she started the business, originally with the target to provide support to working women who may find it difficult managing home and work life, it has since expanded. Today, she catters to the needs of working women living in traffic congested urban areas  such as  Lagos State. She also supports retired, older women who need help with shopping, including people abroad who want to shop for their parents at home in Lagos.

With more than 25 people on her payroll, Salami is not only an employer of labour, but she has also managed to position herself and her company  in the forefront of developing the agric value chain and food safety standards in Nigeria.

At EasyshopEasycook, Salami said food waste could be reduced and food prices far cheaper than it is currently  if facilities such as pack houses, cold chain storage and delivery infrastructure are spread across the country.

In line with her role model status, Salami has been  motivating women, urging them to  take up entrepreneurship.

However, she is not the only female entrepreneur who has made a success of her career. Future Software Resources Nigeria Limited Managing Director,  and winner of the 2012 Etisalat Nigeria Prize for Innovation, Nkem Uwaje, is also a success story.

Uwaje created the iConnect project focused on making Information Communications Technology (ICT) and education more accessible to youths in Nigeria.  Her father came up with the name Futuresoft in 1999 when he first incorporated the company. He always told her  that he created the company for her , and when she  was ready to start her own business in 2008, she  inherited it.

While Uwaje worked for a startup, she realised she  could run the business better than the founder. This gave her the confidence to take the bold step to start her own  company.

With  $600 as start up capital, she  produced high-quality web solutions at an affordable price and in a timely manner. She then began to re-invest any profit she  made. Since then, she has recovered her  investment and this has been an encouragement for her.

Uwaje said her long-term goal is to launch various projects  such as iConnect and grow them into self-sustainable business units. This will position the company  as a leading ICT company in Nigeria and West-Africa.

Asked what were the key things she has learned since starting her business?  She said being bold, patient, never to give up and sticking to  principles are her winning strategies.

The Founder of the AWP Network, Mary Olushoga, said her organisation recognised women doing amazing work in their various communities.

Olushoga belongs to a generation of entrepreneurs who caught her teeth in business by understudying her  father who was an entrepreneur. He father owned Fisbol Nigeria Limited. He also worked as a consultant to several  companies such as AJ Seward, Pfizer, Eleganza, Doyin Industries, and Cocosheen, among others.

This spurred Olushoga to veer into business, starting the AWP network – a platform to empower  small businesses. “We provide valuable access to business resources, educational tools and community support,” she said.

The idea was to provide a supportive community to African entrepreneurs to grow their businesses that will be sustainable and in turn create jobs.

So far, AWP Network has  completed a number of entrepreneurial training programmes. These include its training programme for women farmers in Taraba State due to the major sponsorship she received from the Planet Earth Institute. Olushoga said she plans to establish major farming hubs throughout Nigeria.

Other speakers at the forum  included Director, WAAW Foundation, Tolulope Adeyemo; Founder, Pearls Africa, Abisoye Ajayi and Ubong King.

The post Our success stories, by women entrepreneurs appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Garu Technologies Nigeria Limited Chief Executive Alhaji Lukman Garu is showing the way in auto repair business. His Auto Diagnostics, which makes service delivery faster and responsive, in line with customers’ demand, is the next big thing for aspiring entrepreneurs. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those in the auto repair business, car dignostics is perhaps, the next big thing. With the business  expected to grow rapidly in the future, Garu Technologies Nigeria Limited, Chief Executive, Alhaji Lukman Garu, recommends that this is the right time to explore the bountiful  opportunities therein.

Garu, who was one of the tech gurus that midwifed the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) engineering in Nigeria, first ran a fledgling GSM engineering  startup,  selling  repair  technologies  and solutions.

He was not deterred by the big players.  He sought and developed a winning approach, which was  the use of cheap repair technology.  With time, he became the toast of clients in the market.

Garu encouraged young people to start phone repair business. According to him, it was cost effective to set up a telephone repairs startup in terms of infrastructure and manpower.

Having made an instant success of the business, he quickly transited into car diagnostics, which again became a huge success. This was why he has been encouraging young Nigerians and retirees to explopre the opportunities in auto diagnostics. He has since been training young graduates and entrepreneurs to provide repair and maintenance services based on electronic diagnosis-procedures.

Garu targets individuals without  a background in car maintenance. He also  provides technicians with an opportunity to brush up their diagnostic skills and learn new techniques.

He has been searching for interested entrepreneurs from all walks of life, including house wives, retired persons, unemployed and anybody who likes to work and earn money to explore the opportunities in car diagnostics.

The business, according to him, is not only lucrative, but has the potential to create jobs. He said with auto diagnostics,  service professionals  can  obtain accurate and detailed diagnosis data about each vehicle while allowing a highly efficient and reliable workshop process.

According to Garu, modern vehicle technology continues to advance at a fast pace and diagnostic expertise is becoming a more critical part of the vehicle servicing process.

Garu is not the only entrepreneur who has carved a niche in car diagnostics busniess.  OVH Energy Academy, a training academy owned by Oando Energy,  has also keyed into the busniess.

The firm, in partnership with Garu, has been seeking to fill the skills gap in auto diagnostics expertise for the maintenance of modern vehicles.

The partnership ensures that businesses in automobile  repairs have access to  top talents entering the industry.

Garu’s firm recently presented a car engine training simulator and demonstrator, alongside five pieces of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) scanner and 500 pieces of universal oil filter wrench  to OVH Energy Academy.

OVH Energy graduates have a strong reputation for being well-trained, career ready workers. This will afford small businesses and entrepreneurs  the latest technology as well as high-tech, hands on instruction in  vehicle diagnostics, maintenance and repairs.

The Head of Lubes, OVH Energy Marketing Ltd, Lilian Ikokwu, said his company’s goal with Oleum academy was to create a well-qualified blue-collar workforce, which will be able to meet local industry demands by providing the tools and resources required to remain relevant in the dynamic auto maintenance industry.

Ikokwu explaimed that Oando has deemed it imperative to give back to the Nigerian society by educating and equipping auto technicians with the modern ways of troubleshooting fault in cars as well as solving car related problems.

She said about 5000 auto technicians will benefit from  this  gesture within the next five years, adding that more than 1500 have already benefited.

Ikokwu hailed the partnership with Garu Technologies Nigeria Limited, which she said will enable technicians meet up with the required standard and have certified qualification.

“The impact of this social responsibility to the society cannot be over emphasised. The good gesture by OVH Energy will improve the life span of many Nigerian cars, reduce the frustration of car owners, and most importantly, keep the auto technicians in business with modern technology at their disposal,” Ikokwu said.

The gesture, she said, will also boost technicians’ human capacity, which will in turn improve artisans’ economic activities and positively affect the society and the economy at large.

The post Car diagnostics opens new vista for entrepreneurs appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

VConnect will work with Facebook to equip SMEs in the service sector with the know-how required to significantly increase revenues, acquire new customers, stay ahead of the competition and leverage both the VConnect and Facebook platforms for business growth.

This free one-day event is scheduled to take place on the 8th of June, 2017 in Ikeja, Lagos for 100 SMEs across the sector.

This event is part of Facebook’s Boost your Business initiative, a program designed to educate SMEs on how to use digital platforms for business growth.

Naveen Luthra, Head of Growth and Monetization, VConnect says: “SMEs form the backbone of Nigeria and their growth would augur well for the Nigerian economy. Through this series of SME Conferences, we would like to equip business to get better ‘access to the market’, to get more customers.

“We value the partnership with Facebook for this conference, to jointly empower SMEs through the digital medium.”

Small business owners in attendance will go home with a wealth of knowledge and new set of skills to grow their business, exposure to opportunities often ignored by SMEs much to their detriment as well as new additions to their network of connections.

The SME Conference 2.0 is an invite only event. To register, intending participants are required to send an email to business@vconnect.com or register here to get an invite.

The post Facebook, VConnect version 2.0 to equip SMEs appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Managing Director, TBWA Concept, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu,  has said  small business owners can explore new markets to grow.

Speaking in Lagos at the launch of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) Shop, Nwosu said there were potential for  SMEs to increase their profit with improved branding of their products and services.

SME Shop is an initiative of TBWA Concept dedicated to helping star-tups and small-to-medium-sized companies grow.

Nwosu said small businesses play a crucial role in driving the economy, but they must become more driven, adaptable, and resilient to meet the challenges of the economy.

He advised that SMEs should endeavour to carve a niche for themselves, adding that they should be branded as it would make consumers to go for their products.

He said: “My mission is brands evangelism. It is about how the SMEs will use branding to advance their growth. It is about capturing the market through brand loyalty. He noted that 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria were SMEs and they contributed 48 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.’’

The Business Director, TBWA, Mr. Osibo Imhoitsike, said the company provided marketing network for global products, adding that teaching SMEs to drive growth through branding, marketing and social media networks was part of its obligations.

The post How SMEs can grow, by expert appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

As  Nigeria prepares  to export its certified yam to the United Kingdom and United States this month, the Acting Executive  Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute, Dr  Olufemi Oladunni, has  said the move will boost  the nation’s foreign  earnings  but warned  against  rejection  as some of the produce could be  found to be unwholesome upon arrival.

The new strategy, he said, will certainly provide the opportunity to market fresh yam effectively, grow existing markets and expand into new markets.

Oladunni urged the government to put necessary measures in place to address the problem as the commodity gets rotten within some few days after it arrives.

According to him,  the  industry faces tremendous opportunities as well as challenges and requires support policies, private sector investment, and to become organised as a whole value chain.

He explained that the strategy will ensure Nigeria provides premium quality yam products with global penetration and contributing to an improved economy and livelihoods.

Oladunni urged the players to explore uncharted markets in a move to diversify export markets.

Director-General, African Centre for Supply Chain, (ACSC), Dr Obiora Madu, warned that Nigeria is bound to face competition from Ghana whose export value and volumes for yam have increased recently.

He said it was important for the government to meet with yam value chain actors to decide on market targets and support requirements, discuss potential for investment and roll out strategies for yam development.

He noted that contamination of export produce is emerging as a major food safety challenge. According to him, export produce have been rejected because they have been linked to contamination as a result of the use of preservatives.  In addition, incidence of food borne diseases caused by contaminated exports has increased in recent years.

The diseases, the experts said, are not only a burden on public health but also cause heavy economic loss to the food industry.

According to Oladunni, food safety, especially when the produce is meant for export should be a focus for all players. Guarding against acts that importers see as intended to cause wide-scale harm to their consumers is important.

The post ‘Ensure export of healthy yam’ appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

For every heavy-duty equipment, there’s a mechanic. This has created money-making opportunities for those in maintenance and repairs. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Diesel engines power trucks, maritime vessels, earth-mowers, forklifts and trailers.

It’s a large market, where there are engine repair/rebuild jobs. As long as heavy machinery are needed for construction, transportation, and farming, the commerce and trucking industries will need mechanics.

The key to making money in diesel engine repairs, according to the Chief Operating Officer, Automedics Limited, Gbola Oba, is to find a niche, or an area that is being underserved.

According to him, customers are attracted to shops that  offer services or expertise that others don’t. Profitable niches, he said, include repairs of industrial, marine and truck fleets’ diesel engines. Forklifts, generators, engines for oil rigs, and those that power trucks are also included. He explained that the market requires specialty and experience.

He noted that nothing stopped an automotive engine repairer from delving into heavy-duty diesel and servicing industrial markets which  include mining, marine, stationary power and oil and gas.

Each of the markets has high-demand. They are quality-driven markets where engine reliability takes precedence over price.

According to him, top-level field mechanics are confident of their skills and have a positive attitude to work. Many of them are unserious students in school, but who blossomed late.

Chief  Executive, Garu Tech, Alhaji Lukuman Garu,  said his firm   offers  diagnostics  software,  which  works with  diesel technology.

He urged automotive shops and small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) to diversify into some areas that are lucrative.

However, he agreed with Oba’s call for training. He recommends proper and specific training. He said the marine market has also been lucrative; so, too, has been industrial and farm field work.

He said the market is very competitive. He noted that many fleet owners do not carry out regular maintenance of their trucks.

His firm, he added, has close ties with companies which need qualified workers, adding that there is a job awaiting such mechanics.

The post Opportunities in diesel engines repairs appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

The Central Bank of Nigeria Southsouth Entrepreneurship programme is producing many change makers. The change makers are meeting the needs of Nigerians, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

In a community of Ikwuano in Abia State, bees – which some perceive as harmful, are prominent. But for Chinonso Agbo and his partner, Kingsley Nwogu, the bees present a golden opportunity to create wealth and impact their local community.

After graduating as an agronomist from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Chinonso set out to use the knowledge he acquired in school to produce honey. To achieve this, he teamed up with another agronomist; they started Patnon Gate Farm, which produces natural honey – aptly earning him the nickname, the Bee King.

From the business’ inception in 2015, the sojourn was rough until he took a break to study how to restructure his business for better profitability. That was how he encountered Southsouth Entrepreneurship Development.

While undergoing training at the centre, Chinonso discovered that most of the little things he neglected in the past actually contributed to the poor business management and losses.

Armed with the new knowledge and exposure, he restructured his product packaging and relationships with customers, this led to improved sales.

He didn’t stop at that; he improved his management skills by getting the local communities involved in the process of bee gathering.

He taught the locals how to safely attract bees and sale to him. With this approach, he has a steady supply of bees which means more production.

Due to improvement in the business, his clients’ base includes buyers from Europe and other African countries.

Chinonso said: “My engagement with SSEDC was the biggest game changer in the business as I was exposed to business plan development and management, customer relationship and leadership skills. But perhaps the most impactful for me was the Popup market – where we were grouped and asked to sale certain products to customers to taste our marketing skills and team work – this was an eye opener for me and the lesson I learnt is what has turned Patnon Gate Farm around”.

The farm has six permanent members of staff and over 50 contract workers. It has improved farming yield of other local farmers as their bees serve as pollinators. In addition to that, it has trained over 110 persons in the community and recently partnered NDDC to extend the training to other communities.

For Chinonso and his partner, their long-term plan is to build the largest apiary in the country, supplying healthy honey to customers. “We are committed to act as one of the catalysts that allow digital entrepreneurship and economic development to thrive across the continent.’’

Another success story is that of the Chief Executive, Chinelle World, Emmanuella Agwu.

Growing up for Emmanuella was fun – made so by her love for designing and coming up with various styles.

The dress she made for her birthday was the turning point as people kept asking her to make a similar dress. That was the first sign of what was to come years later. After graduating from the University of Calabar where she studied Extension, & Social Development, she abandoned her passion to start a promising career in banking. But her dream of a successful career in the industry was shattered after the bank collapsed, no thanks to recapitalisation. This gave birth to Chinelle World – a one-stop fashion house that offers ready-to-wear dresses, image illustration, fashion consultation, fashion styling, fabric retailing and training.

Emmanuella started sewing commercially from her house and gradually built a reliable client base through referrals. In 2014, she enrolled for the Southsouth Entrepreneurship Development programme in order to enhance her business management and structure.

She said: “My encounter with the Southsouth EDC was very interesting because though I was already good at what I do but wasn’t getting proper reward for it, so the programme helped me redefined and restructure the business and opened my eyes to the most important aspect of business which are record keeping, effective pricing and offering superior customer service. She said “I was equally hoping to get financial support from the Centre which didn’t materialised, but I learnt the importance of dreaming big but starting small and the rest is history to the glory of God”.

Today, the beautiful mother of two from Cross River State has built Chinelle World fashion house to employ four staff in addition to some contract staff and has a sprawling showroom at the most popular Marian Road, Calabar. Her clients know her for only one thing – exquisite designs with strict attention to details. For Emmanuella, “we are still incubating and will soon grow into a global brand, the next phase of Chinelle World is rapid expansion into other cities and featuring in leading fashion stores”.

The post Here comes the change makers appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Rullion Capacity Builders Foundation, a non-profit organization, in furtherance of her vision to empower women and young people with the skills to own their own businesses will host a shopping fair on Monday, 26th of June, 2017 by 12 noon at Archbishop Vining Grounds, Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos tagged “The Women’s Entrepreneurial Fair (WEF) 2017”.

The objective of the event is to showcase women-owned MSMEs; promote and highlight the role that MSMEs play in economic development of the nation; bring ‘big business’ and Women-owned MSMEs together under one roof and help promote Women-owned businesses in the MSME space.

In a release by the Founder, Rullion Capacity Builders Foundation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Egedi explained that beyond the displaying of goods and services, the fair is an avenue for women to launch their businesses. “We believe that doing this will put a smile on the women’s faces and what a long way that will go”.

According to her, the fair starts from Lagos and will extend to other regions of the country. We have some exhibitors which we have designed fliers for to make themselves visible and give publicity to the Fair. An exhibition stand at the event is just N5,000 while products at the fair is N3,000 below.

The fair is proudly supported by Cake World Nigeria, Inspiration FM., Rave TV, Cadbury Nigeria, Nobel Carpets and Rugs, LAPO Micro Finance Bank and many others.

The post Rullion 2017 women’s entrepreneurial fair holds June 26th appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.