Foundation hosts Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurs, charges youths on capacity building
The Emmanuel Inyang Foundation, on Saturday, 24th October, 2020, played host Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurs at the maiden Ibom Entrepreneurial Conference, where its CEO, Engr. Emmanuel Inyang, charged Akwa Ibom youths on capacity building.
Engineer Inyang remarked that after COVID-19 pandemic had destroyed the country’s economy, he was forced to provide a platform for the youths to thrive by starting programmes that will stimulate the Entrepreneurial potential in them.
He described the programme as part of the measures to build up and restructure the Post-COVID economy of the state, stressing that the Foundation had embarked on what he called Meet and Greet programme where some individuals in the field of entrepreneurship are visited.
“In the Meet and Greet session, I met several aspiring and successful entrepreneurs, the Foundation reoriented these entrepreneurs on the need to see each other as co-facilitators and not engage in unnecessary competition.
“The Foundation further observed that there are a number of factors that militate against the growth of young entrepreneurs in the state and this Foundation will strive to address this problems within shortage period of time,” he said.
In an interview with our reporter, Engr. Inyang said among the notable factors confronting Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurs are poor funding due to lack of capital; poor infrastructure; poor mindset and mental attitude towards the concept of entrepreneurship.
He also revealed that the Foundation has follow-up plans that will help secure machineries and equipment to aspiring Entrepreneurs in the state.
Similarly, Prof. Otoabasi Akpan encouraged the Foundation to make the Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurship Conference an annual event, noting that it will help add lives and meaning to the businesses of young people within the state.
Speaking on the topic “Harnessing Globalisation for Business Sustainability”, Prof. Otoabasi Akpan disclosed that Globalisation has made it possible for expansion and integration of market utilities to take place.
He further maintained that Globalisation has boosted ordinary businesses which would have operated on a local space to secure a lasting space in the global market, positing that businesses that survive the challenges of global market are those that always embrace innovations and researches.
In his words: “Michael Potter of the Harvard Business School has posited that a company that needs to engage in sustainability must take care of improvements, innovation and change and these are only possible through constant research.”
Prof Otoabasi urged young Akwa Ibom entrepreneurs to always engage in consumer research in order to know what constitutes their need.
Highlight of the Conference was the donation of a hundred, seventy and fifty thousand cash prize to winners of the of 2020 Entrepreneurial Essay Competition and organised by Emmanuel Inyang Foundation, with Engr. Emmanuel Inyang saying that the competition was not just an academic involvement but a means of helping beneficiaries to have capital to startup their dream businesses.
Responding to the kind gesture, one of the beneficiaries said that money given to her will help her pay first semester school fees as well settle part of her accommodation bills.
In an interview, the overall winner in the competition, Akaninyene David, expressed his excitement being the winner, revealing that out of about 50 people that submitted applications for the competition only God’s grace and hard work on his part stood him out.
“Over fifty people applied but only 10 came out successful and I am so excited to emerge as the winner,” he observed.
Speaking further Comrade David said he has always been hoping to start a school where people can come in and learn about event management and protocol, adding that the money will help form part of the capital needed to get that done.
Other speakers at the event included: Dr. Christabel Brown, Acting Head Department of Business Administration, Akwa Ibom State University; Mr. Aniekan Usoroh, a Business Administrator and Consultant; Mrs. Nsikan Netima, Founder, Blow Business Community and Consultant at Netima Global Resources Ltd and Nature Udo, CEO Nature Udo & The Gang.