It was a packed, fun filled and enlightened atmosphere as the city of Ibadan played host to the Crème de la Crème of Youth and Entrepreneurship development in Nigeria at the 2019 Youth Enterprise Conference organized by the founder of the popular betting company Oloye Akin Alabi held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. The well attended event played host to successful Nigerian entrepreneurs such as Media entrepreneur, Japhet Omojuwa, Sports Media and Marketing Professional, Biola kazeem, Soupamarkert CEO, Olashile Abayomi, brain behind Irokotv, Jason Njoku, Co-founder Digital Nexus Interactive, Roland Nzimora, among others.
In a packed hall filled with the youthful minds, Business leaders and icons all took turns to teach inspire and encourage entrepreneurs and would be entrepreneurs on the basic rudiments and principles that can guarantee success in their chosen areas of business.
Foremost Blogger and Media entrepreneur Japhet Omojuwa advised the youths to widen their knowledge horizon by reading books and also make profitable use of social media in their businesses. According to him, the huge potentials of the Social Media in this part of the world are still largely left untapped and not fully unharnessed waiting for the ingenuity of the youths to explore the potentials. He further noted that the potentials are only going to continue to get bigger with time.
He however advised the youths to be cautious of the good and bad aspects and effects of social media. According to him, the social media is not a reality but a perspective, a perspective that someone wants you to see.”
The CEO of Soupamarket Mrs. Olashile Abayomi, who shared her personal story emphasized the importance of God and being unique in once business. According to her, the God factor is one that cannot be relegated, in fact she is a ‘product of grace’. She recalled how she missed an interview with a big Oil and Gas company and how the episode helped her to discover her purpose. She also narrated her ordeal in the hands of friend and classmates who mocked her while selling food beside her church every Sunday and the negative effects it has on her and how she was able to overcome those challenges. She advised would be entrepreneurs to strive to stand out and be unique in their line of business. For her, ‘even if there are thousand as of people doing exactly what you are doing, try to be exclusive and unique.’
Also speaking at the event, sports media professional Biola Hakeem emphasized the importance of tenacity and doggedness in the pursuit of one’s passion. Narrating his foray into the sports media business Mr Hakeem noted that he has always been a sports enthusiast while growing up and felt he could do what the sports presenters on TV could do. His preparedness and persistent paid off when he was handed his first contract as a sports analyst of TV. He therefore advised the youths to always be prepared for opportunities and be dogged in their pursuit of their dreams and desires.
The convener Akin Alabi challenged the youths to surround themselves with people who can motivate them to success. Sharing his own experience, he advised them not to be afraid of starting small and feeding on the needs of the people to make and grow their products so as to achieve success. According to him, Getting a market before creating a product is important in business planning.
At the event gift items which include jersey and books were given to some attendees. Oloye Akin Alabi also awarded a cash gift of #100,000 each to ten deserving entrepreneurs in their effort to grow their businesses.
A major highlight of the event was a cash reward to an attendee who came all the way from Maiduguri in order to attend the event. He was given a cash gift of #132,000 for compensation and encouragement.
The Youth Enterprise Conference is a yearly event hosted by Oloye Akin Alabi in a bid to encourage and motivate business and would be business owners in their business endeavors. This is the first time the event will be held in the city of Ibadan.
