Former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Bank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan will lead seasoned financial experts to address critical factors challenging entrepreneurship growth in the country.

Specifically targeted at the huge number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, the summit is organised by the Catholic Brothers United (CBU) of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland in Lagos and is slated to hold on Oct 22 at the church’s premise.

Chairman of the conference organising committee, Gabriel Akumhegie, said the theme of the conference, ‘Entrepreneurship Drive: A Tool For Mitigating Unemployment For National Growth, was apt, given the declining growth of the country’s productive sector.

In a statement, Akumhegie lamented that given the outlook of Nigeria’s employment conditions for the third quarter in the year, dropped to the lowest in nearly three years due to petrol subsidy removal and Naira devaluation.

Citing the latest aggregate Manufacturers CEOs Confidence Index (MCCI) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), he said employment conditions for July-September of 2023 deteriorated below the 50 benchmark points to 46.6 points from 47.8 points in the previous quarter.

Highlighting the many challenges confronting businesses, which had led to job losses, Akumhegie, said the financial experts at the conference would help in addressing them and also proffer solutions that would help in providing jobs. He added that Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state is expected as the chief guest of honour.