Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Obasanjo tasks government on implementation of entrepreneurial policies

By Benjamin Alade
03 November 2016   |   4:51 am
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has charged the Federal Government to implement policies that will encourage investors and entrepreneurs to do business in the country.
Obasanjo

Obasanjo

•Elumelu Foundation partners AfDB, ECOWAS, ministry

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has charged the Federal Government to implement policies that will encourage investors and entrepreneurs to do business in the country.

Obasanjo who spoke recently at the second edition of the yearly Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) entrepreneurship forum in Lagos, said implementation of such policies would promote financial inclusion, create financial independence and break the cycle of overdependence, as well as financial independence of youths.

He charged entrepreneurs to be patient in their dealings even as the economy is facing crisis, saying, “for strength in life you need a bit of adversity.”

He hailed Elumelu’s perseverance and focus on giving back to the society.

His words: “By every means, God has made His face shine upon you. You are not the only one, but unlike you, some others do not have the idea of empowering the next generation of Africans in the manner and scale that you are doing.”

In his address, Founder, TEF, Tony Elumelu, challenged stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society, multilateral organizations and individuals invested in Africa’s economic development to join hands with the Foundation to support the wider African entrepreneurial community.

He said: “We need to support our entrepreneurs because extreme poverty and economic opportunity rarely coexist in the same place.”

He disclosed that the Foundation has partnered with regional institutions, which includes; the African Development Bank (AfDB), Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), Coca Cola, the International Trade Centre, Nigerian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Entrepreneurship to enhance its vision.

Applauding Tony Elumelu’s promise to not only empower entrepreneurs, but also to tackle the fundamental economic challenges confronting the African continent, President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, called on stakeholders in the country to emulate TEF’s initiative.

He described the programme as a unique initiative, which provides a platform for entrepreneurs not only to build connections, but also being taught on how to build their businesses in a sustainable way.

“Other philanthropists will be inspired to support and promote this philosophy,” Koroma said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ms. Parminder Vir, implored entrepreneurs to continue to build the future and change the flawed perceptions about the Africa continent.

0 Comments