Walure Capital set to change tech narrative, seeks empowerment of entrepreneurs

Managing Director, Walure Capital, Adeleye Samuel has disclosed that the imperative of changing the nation’s tech narrative could not be over emphasised even as he advised entrepreneurs thinking of travelling abroad to stay in Nigeria.

Speaking during the official unveiling of the state-of-the-art hub in Lagos last week, he disclosed that Nigeria is a country with huge opportunities.

According to him, “we are trying to empower people on where tech opportunities are. What we are doing is to provide facilities that can help start-ups or entrepreneurs. Some don’t have the opportunity in terms of the start-up capital. Our vision is to be the leading tech provider in Nigeria. We also rely on tech talents and we discourage youths from travelling abroad.”

Speaking further, he said the organization is partnering with universities on how to change the ways lecturers deliver lectures, like uploading contents on a platform where students could watch anytime.

Concerning challenges, he identified accessibility and challenges of foreign exchange.

On future plans, he disclosed, “we are looking into entertainment. We are going into remote areas via radio. We are planning to spread beyond Lagos State so that we can encourage youths leaving the shores of this country that there are opportunities in Nigeria. We are also going to erect lots of billboards in Lagos.

Group Managing Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Adewale Raji, commended the initiative of the CEO, adding that tech is transforming the way things are done.

He said application of technology has made the difference in the telecoms sector unlike in the power sector.

Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako said Lagos is doing something similar to Walure Capital.

He disclosed that the state government is establishing an ICT park, worth billions of naira in Yaba, Lagos.

He said the project is a partnership between the state government and private investors.

Professor of Mass Communication and Chairman of the event, Ralph Akinfeleye spoke on “Contending Issues in Potholes In Nigerian Democracy: The role of the press.”

Akinfeleye, who is also Council Member & African Representative World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC,) said the media are not one hundred per cent a change agent, but could provide the raw materials for change agents. He described the change agents as public office holders.

He however said the raw materials couldn’t be processed well because most public office holders lack the commitment.

According to him, “they don’t want to invest in tech but thuggery or stealing of ballot papers. So the media must pursue removal of the potholes.”

General Manager, Walure Capital, Obafemi Okubanjo disclosed that the hub is a tech training and talent outsourcing firm that trains people in tech skills, ios, programming, cyber security, flutter, ASP.NET, project management, software quality assurance among others.

He noted that “at Walure Capital, we are trying to build a tech community in our hub where tech talents can always come to associate and network with their fellow tech professionals and exchange ideas . We are also serving as a bridge between tech talents and corporate organizations in need of these talents. We continually fill up the pool when it is getting dry.”