LCCI tasks entrepreneurs on collaboration, sustainability

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has graduated about 73 entrepreneurs from this year’s mentoring programme, urging them to embrace collaborations and sustainable business growth practices.

The LCCI President, Michael Okewale Cole, during the graduation ceremony, said the chamber has continued to wax stronger in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) especially, in the area of development of youth and Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) through its mentoring programmes.

He implored the new grandaunts to ensure that they make the best out of the opportunity to be good ambassadors of the programme, keep the flame glowing and encourage other entrepreneurs to benefit from the programme.

“In a space of years, the mentoring programme has groomed many entrepreneurs that have contributed to the development of the economy.

“It is important that we bring together all our mentoring alumni to form a formidable team that can lend support to one another and thus give a competitive edge in today’s tough business environment.”

He urged the graduates to see one another as business partners who could work together to grow their respective businesses and build Nigeria.

Speaking also at the event, the Vice President and Chairperson, Board of ‘BEST’ Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bamidele Daramola, advised the new grandaunts to have a healthy collaboration that can engender growth.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the pandemic’s impact has touched almost every aspect of modern life, upending public health systems, the global economy, travel, supply chains, community and social ties and how we work. Unemployment has risen, and the global economy shrank by 4.4 per cent in 2020.

“During this period, the Chamber transited its activities online and the mentoring programme was one of the activities that were used to test the waters. All business-training sessions slated for the programme were held online, however, it was not without hitches, but we were able to adapt to the situation.

“In the last two years, the programme had a total of 175 entrepreneurs who indicated interest while commencing the programme”, he added.