106 bag LCCI’s entrepreneurship, mentoring certifications

106 persons have bagged the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Entrepreneurship Mentoring Programme (EMP) certification.

LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, noted at the graduation in Lagos that 14 other persons also bagged the LCCI-Lagos State University (LASU) Diploma in Entrepreneurship Certification.

Idahosa, who was represented by the chamber’s Director-General, Dr Chinyere Almona, described the EMP as not only a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative for them but also an investment in the socio-economic future of Nigeria and her business landscape.

Idahosa stressed the power and importance of mentorship and knowledge sharing in shaping the future of Nigeria’s economy.

He said the programme since its inception has graduated over 600 mentees with each one of them making meaningful contributions to the economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and increasing economic resilience.

He noted that Nigeria’s economy was expected to grow by three per cent in 2024, mainly driven by the non-oil sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and digital services.

He said as younger entrepreneurs engage in the critical areas of the economy, they will be in a position to contribute their quotas to job creation and regional development, which are critical for Nigeria’s economic stability and progress.

“Our graduates have been exposed to invaluable guidance from seasoned mentors, each of whom has provided support and guidance on key skills such as personal development, communication, negotiation, networking, and business planning. According to recent estimates, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute around 48 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employ roughly 84 per cent of the national workforce. Programmes like this are, therefore, not just beneficial but essential to sustaining this momentum,” he said.

Idahosa said that the government’s emphasis on encouraging entrepreneurship, seen through initiatives such as the Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme aligned with the LCCI programme. He, however, stressed that more needs to be done as the chamber continues to advocate for policies to simplify business processes, improve access to finance, and reduce trade barriers.

Idahosa urged the mentees to use the skills acquired, such as personal development, communication, negotiation, networking, and the ability to create solid business plans, to build successful business careers.

Chairperson, Board of Business Education Service and Training (BEST) Unit, LCCI, Funlayo Bakare-Okeowo, disclosed that the graduation was the 11th edition and the first set of the LCCI-LASU entrepreneurship programmes.

Expressing pride in contributing to the development of the economic impact of businesses, communities, and the nation at large,

She said by providing the platform, the LCCI is not just fostering meaningful sustainable growth but also empowering young people to provide solutions to global economic challenges.

“A lot has been put in place to ensure this programme’s success, with over 28 business management training sessions, business tours and clinics, local and international exhibitions, networking events, and others. I especially laud Providus Bank for enabling the chamber to scale up the programme delivery, both in quality and quantity, providing access to loans and grants, business networking and promotion opportunities. We also appreciate the Bank of Industry (BoI), Lagos Island Connect (LIC), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), and the faculty for your dedicated support to providing training resources, information, and other needs to nurture these entrepreneurs,” she said.