Entrepreneurs urge youths to leverage on economic diversification

Nigerian youths have been urged to explore opportunities in the agro-allied and Information Technology (ICT) sector to reduce the burden of unemployment in the country.

The call was made at a Wealth Creation conference organised by WealthyU, a non-governmental organisation that assists and train young entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the theme: “Discovering Strategies for Wealth Creation and Financial Freedom”, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Total Engineering Concept (TECO) Group, Charles Aladewolu said, there are various opportunities in the country the youths can leverage on to create employment for themselves, rather that relying on white-collar jobs.

He said with the advancement of technology, youths can create innovative and scientific approach to resolve the economic crisis faced in Nigeria, just as their counterparts in developed countries are inventing robotic devices.

Aladewolu maintained that the current state of the economy is an opportunity for the youths to develop innovations that will assist government to carry out appropriate reforms in all the sectors.

The agro-allied entrepreneur, who doubled as the chairperson of the conference, stressed the need for diversification to agricultural sector, as it not only focus on food production as the source of wealth creation, but many products could be produced from the farm products.

“ In the next 15 years, I don’t expect people to be working the way they are doing, they have to look for more ways to be successful. Agriculture is not only about food production, there are others areas, like the palm oil products in which 42 products can be extracted from the kernel oil. All the cosmetics we buy in shop contain 75 percent kernel oil. We only pay for the fragrance added to the content, also the fibre is used in producing mattress, “ he added.

Also speaking, the vice president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), South-West, Bishop Reuben Oke, in this presentation on the theme of the conference, Bishop Reuben Oke said, majority of the youths lack ability to discover their potentials, hence, the increased unemployment rate.

Oke who commended the government for implementing plans to promote entrepreneurship development in the country, said the academic curriculum should be reviewed, adding that there should be more of practical than theory, which he said would enable students discover and develop their potentials upon graduation.

The couch of WealthyU, Dr. Adebola Olubanjo said the youths should create solutions that would solve the economic problem, rather than traveling abroad to engage in menial jobs.

He further said that there was need for the youths to expand their horizon by getting knowledge through seminars and conferences on entrepreneurship development to enable them develop ideas as well as execute them.