Economic empowerment: Experts charge Nigerian youths to be different

…as MTNF inaugurates Scholars Alumni Conference

Nigerian youths have been charged not to allow their challenges be their limitations in the quest to become successful in their endeavours. As a way out, the youths are advised to develop the necessary skills, attitudes and attributes to succeed as entrepreneur and excel in their chosen carrier.

The call was made during the grand finale of the MTN Foundation Scholars Alumni Conference. The event which held in Lagos, was part of several initiatives from the MTN Foundation aimed at empowering the Nigerian youths towards making their lives brighter.

Providing insight for becoming a successful entrepreneur in Nigeria, founder of arts and style centre, Tera Kulture, Ms. Bolanle Austen Peters, advised the students and alumni to build valued relationships that will be instrumental in their path to success. According to Austen-Peters, “a valuable relationship and a bold determination is important to climbing and staying on top of the ladder of success. Fear is the enemy, dream big, be bold”.

Recounting how he also surmounted his challenges, CEO OkadaBooks.com Ofili Okechukwu encouraged the youths to always explore every opportunity to achieve their objectives He said “don’t get addicted to your degrees you have to get up and be a reformer,  reformers do it until they get it right”.

Earlier in Owerri, CEO, SLOT Nigeria, Nnamdi Ezegbo, urged the participants at the conference to grab opportunities as they come and avoid losing sight of their goals. “There is no perfect time for you to strike at success. Every time is the best, but you need to understand the times.”

Speaking on the same issue in Abuja, the Co -Founder and Executive Director of Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, urged the alumni and other students to believe in their abilities and start winning. He advised the participants to take advantage of the strength that comes from their abilities and use it to achieve their desires.

Assuring the participants of MTN Foundations’ continuous support, Director, MTN Foundation, Elder Dennis Okoro, said that the participants should see the scholarship as a rare opportunity that must be well utilized. For the alumni Okoro said, “now that you have all gained and have been empowered, it is essential that you show yourselves as worthy ambassadors of the programme. Feel free to exhibit your creativity positively and contribute your quota to the development of the country; also remain assured of our continuous support”.

Headlined by a road show which began in Owerri, through Abuja and Lagos, the Scholars Alumni Conference is yearly gathering of the  beneficiaries of MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme and Blind Students Scholarship Scheme. The event was preceded by the annual employability workshop, where the graduands were taught relevant life skills needed for economic empowerment.

Since the inception of the scheme, the MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships worth over 6 Billion Naira to more than 8,000 blind/science and technology students. The Foundation has provided annual scholarships since 2009 worthN200, 000 to 500 eligible students studying a science related discipline and 100 deserving Blind students.