Industry leaders and young professionals have urged Port Harcourt residents and business stakeholders to look beyond oil and embrace innovation.

They made this known on Wednesday at the maiden edition of The More Summit 2025 in the Garden City under the theme “Igniting Innovations for a Brighter Future.”

Convener of the summit, media personality Moyosore Williams, said the city could no longer rely on oil wealth, stressing that young people must take charge of opportunities in emerging sectors.

She said, “The future is now. If we are willing to look beyond oil, we will discover that there is more within us; more to build, more to create, and more to offer the world. Innovation and creativity are the true wealth of this generation, and it is our responsibility to harness them to shape a future we can be proud of.”

Legal practitioner Eseosa Gabriel and media personality Honey Ojukwu advised participants to embrace resilience and service, while Williams added, “One of the key principles to success is to serve. Because in serving, you learn, make your mistakes, and grow.”

Keynote speaker, Pastor Oyindamola Oludapo, urged young people to resist mediocrity. He said, “Many young people settle for average because of reasons like fear, comparison, background, or pressure. But the cycle must be broken for us to see the MORE within.”

Agribusiness expert Promise Chizara, DHL Nigeria senior manager Maudlyn Yahaya, and entrepreneur Onyeama Obinna all stressed adaptability in today’s workplace. Yahaya, who rose from receptionist to senior manager at DHL, shared her journey as proof that diligence and humility still matter.

The event also featured empowerment opportunities. Ten participants won scholarships to study Real Estate and Business Fundamentals at the Garden City Real Estate Academy, while three others secured places in a 12-day No-Code Web Development course sponsored by ROCTech Enterprise, Abuja.