Empowering
Emerging
Entrepreneurs
LAGOS
U.S. Consulate, FSD Academy Train Entrepreneurs
by Temitayo Famutimi
F
ollowing the successes
recorded during the first edition
of the U.S. Consulate General
Lagos’ Conference for Emerging
Entrepreneurs, the second edition was
held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
April 10-11, 2018. The Consulate, in
collaboration with a leading vocational
training and entrepreneurship institute
Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD), hosted
about 100 budding entrepreneurs,
selected from the Niger Delta and
Eastern states.
Participants learned how to transform
their ideas into practical business
plans, manage business risks, navigate
difficult moments, seek capital, and
develop partnerships to help their
businesses grow.
Leading business leaders including
Sahara Group co-founder Tonye
Cole, Emzor Pharmaceutical CEO
Stella Okoli, Andela co-founder Iyin
Aboyeji, award-winning designer
Zizi Cardow, and senior executives of
prominent commercial banks mentored
and trained the participating young
entrepreneurs.
U.S. Consul General F. John Bray
declared the workshop open and
was joined by Rivers State Deputy
Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo,
and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Port Harcourt,
Professor Regina Enyidia-Ogali. In
his welcome remarks, Consul General
Bray explained that one of U.S. Mission
Nigeria’s primary goals is to support
Nigeria’s economic development. He
noted the U.S. Department of State
supports entrepreneurs all over the
world through training and mentoring,
while also working with governments
to create enabling environments and
entrepreneurial cultures.
“There is growing evidence that
entrepreneurs the world over are
the drivers of job growth. The U.S.
government is firmly convinced
that in addition to creating jobs and
expanding economic opportunities,
entrepreneurship contributes to
political stability and a vibrant civil
society,” Consul General Bray added.
Following the opening session the
emerging entrepreneurs were divided
into four sectorial areas, which
they selected when they applied to
participate in the conference. The
areas were: energy, information and
communication technology, food
processing and agriculture, and fashion.
On the second day, immediate past
Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka,
co-led a session on the Value Chain in
the Energy Sector for participants in
the newly introduced energy group.
Participants later came together to
learn from representatives from the
Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture,
Diamond Bank, Access Bank, and
Fidelity Bank about the various options
for obtaining funding for start-ups.
A representative from the U.S.
Foreign Commercial Service also
gave a comprehensive presentation
on how the participants could access
international commercial opportunities.
Management expert and CEO Centre
for Values in Leadership, Professor Pat
Utomi, gave an inspiring lecture on
Leadership Excellence in Venturing. He
also spoke extensively on the benefits
of delayed gratification in business.
U.S. Consul General Bray delivers the welcome
address while the mentors and young
entrepreneurs pay rapt attention
16
CROSSROADS | May/June 2018
Follow on events include a “stock
taking meeting” with participants to be
hosted by the Public Affairs Section in
Lagos and monitoring by the program
implementing partner throughout the
coming year.