By Mary Amodu.
Barrister Natasha Akpoti urged Nigerian students to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills by focusing on reviving and sustaining Nigerian local products as against patronizing foreign goods and services.
She stated this recently while playing host at an entrepreneurship program organized by the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), which took place at Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi state.
The entrepreneurship program was tagged; ‘take advantage of your youthful years and your rural location by focusing your adventurous yet creative potentials into harnessing the economic productivity of our glorious past heritage’.
Akpoti enunciated that the biggest brands in the world started small but expanded in growth over the years by sustainable transfer of production skill from generation to generation. She cited examples like Gallet & Co of Switzerland which was founded in 1466 as the world’s oldest watchmaker and till today, it is family-managed. Trudon of France was established in 1643 and is being operated by family tradition till date as the oldest and most expensive candle makers in the world. Creed Perfumes of France, which was originally tailors in the UK, was founded in 1760. Till today, by tradition, a father and a son run it. The current generation of father and son perfumers is Oliver and Erwin Creed.
“Where are Nigerian local industries?” Barrister Akpoti asked.
“Why don’t we have a single local factory operating for more than 20 years? Where are the cloth weavers of Ebira, the wood and bronze carvers of Benin, the brass smiths of Bida? Why is our palm wine not distilled and sold in fancy bottles all over the world? When are we going to produce and promote a Nigerian economic heritage that is uniquely ours?”
Barr Akpoti expressed worries over the rate of unemployed youths in the country and stressed the need for the youths to step out of their illusionary comfort zone, connect to their immediate environment and expand the value chain of local productions which can possibly be operated as small businesses.
She further emphasised that government should revamp the educational system to enable us produce creative entrepreneurs.
She blamed the educational sector as being “too Western”, whose curriculum does not reflect the true entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.
“Students spend averagely 4 years studying books that are totally alien to their environment, hence smart brains are ushered into an ill-prepared socio-economic structure.
“Our educational system is colonial in nature and breeds employees rather than employers of labor”, she explained.
Barr. Akpoti further enlightened the enthusiastic youths on some entrepreneurial challenges and skills would-be entrepreneurs need to thrive. “From the bad and inconsistent policies to lack of funds and infrastructure, Nigeria is one of the most difficult environments for entrepreneurs to succeed in.
“However, as good entrepreneurs, it is your duty to push against the tides and connect your skill and passion to serve a particular market need. While great entrepreneurs go further to create a functional system to cushion businesses”
She urged the youths to work with existing trade and not shy away from creating their very own corporations which could serve as a platform to advocate for favourable fiscal policies and administrative incentives from the government.
In her typical fashion of bluntness, she added, “Don’t expect to the government to offer all you need on a platter of gold. No. You have to demand assertively and even aggressively for your wealth creating opportunities. Remember that most leaders and policy makers are not in office out of merit but as political party loyalists so they do not understand what your business needs to succeed and of course, don’t even know how to go about implementing effective strategies.
“It is important you articulate your demands and work very closely with the government for an all-round success. Remember, entrepreneurs don’t give up, they try 1000 more times until it works”
Rounding up the session, Barr. Akpoti unfolded her Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP) plans towards supporting the Entrepreneurial Development Center of the school. She pledged a total of 600,000 (six hundred thousand naira) to three student-run groups in the field of farming, cotton by-products manufacturing and crafts. Each group shall receive 200,000 on the submission of a workable business plan. She stated that BHIIP will monitor the businesses and continually support financially and morally.
Responding, the Director of Federal Polytechnic Idah department of Entrepreneurship Development Center Alhaji I.O. Umar applauded Barrister Akpoti’s effort and commitment towards molding youths that are capable of taking charge of their destinies, creating their own wealth and in turn support Nigeria’s economic growth.
“There are no jobs out there, but we have potentials even within our rural environment, it is time we open our eyes and hearts to the blessings within”, he said.
Alhaji Umar also used this medium to call on other entrepreneurs to emulate Barr. Akpoti by reaching down to the youths and sensitize them on how to realize their entrepreneurial potentials.
The NAKOSS President, Mr Haruna Bashir, also appreciated Akpoti’s selfless nature in philanthropically impacting positively on the society, especially believing in the youths’ capacity for self-employment. He thanked her for always making time to attend to calls from the Kogi state’s students irrespective of her busy schedule.
He implored the state government to reach out to the youths especially in areas of entrepreneurship capacity building and facilitation of incentives for youth business start-ups.
Barr Akpoti bagged two awards; one from the students body, NAKOSS, for her patriotism to Nigeria and philanthropy towards students. While the second award was presented by Mr. Hamza Lamisi on behalf of the Nigerian Youth Solidarity Group for Akpoti’s outstanding contribution to self-employment and human capacity building.
