Former House of Representatives member, Abimbola Daramola has charged the Federal Government to articulate agenda that is private sector driven to promote Enterpreneurship in Nigeria.
The ex-lawmaker said this in respect for the country’s 60th year anniversary, to encourage people to focus on fighting the mass job deficit caused by COVID-19.
Dr. Daramola said this in an entrepreneurship pre-boot camp on Project 60:60:60 in Abuja. He said entrepreneurship has to be structured so that people will be able to fit into it.
While announcing plans to assist over 60,000 entrepreneurs from each geopolitical zones with N60,000 to N1 million each, he added that, there will be a board of assessors who will assess all ideas.
In his words “This vision starts this year as part of our 60th year Independence Anniversary with the selection of 60 young people with workable creative ideas, skills, vision from the six geopolitical zones. The successful ones will attend the 60th Independence Anniversary Entrepreneur Boot Camp and thereafter will be given startup capital”
He added that the startup capital or business support fund which will be given after the boot camp will be under the assessors’ operational supervision.
Dr. Daramola noted that the project is aimed at raising new entrepreneurs between 2020 and 2030 and that the goal is to establish 774 entrepreneur laboratories in all the Local Government Areas of Nigeria.
Speaking on the federal government’s plan to recruit 1,000 itinerant, unskilled workers in each of the 774 Local Government Areas from October to December for roads rehabilitation, construction, sanitation, among others, he said a country that is challenged with resources like Nigeria should not throw money into projects that are not degenerating.
“What we should be looking out for is how to ensure that every kobo counts, if we are going to pay people N20,000 for three months, is it not better they put the money together and give it to youths who will be involved to go and learn farming, tailoring among others which will serve them and the nation well.” He said.
“Everyone must understand that crude oil is no longer the mainstay of the economy, we are talking about diversification and many more, it is time to work our talk, in doing this. This is why we have started this initiative and I am sure the economy of this country will feel a pinch of the impact of what we are trying to do”, he added.
At the same event, guest speaker, Nancy Nnaji challenged new and existing entrepreneurs to increase partnership, networking and innovations that will make them relevant during the pandemic.
“One of the reasons you see that most businesses in Africa fail when the owner dies is because they refused to allow partnerships”, she said.
Also Speaking, National Head, Africa’s Young Entrepreneur, Olumide Oluwadare, urged entrepreneurs to identify challenges and provide solutions for their businesses to thrive.
