“Stay and Invest in Nigeria”- Wale Ajisebutu Tells Youths at October Edition of CFA’s Startups Hangout

Mr Wale Ajisebutu, Vice-Chairman, 21st Century Technologies, has advised young entrepreneurs to stop complaining about what the government has not done but see all the problems that we have in Nigeria as opportunities they can key into and start a business on because the government cannot do them all.

He made this comment in his presentation at the October 2017 edition CFA’s Startups Hangout, which was held at Adna Hotel, GRA, Ikeja on Friday, October 20, 2017.

According to him, “You cannot see all these kinds of opportunities in England, for instance, because they have light, they have houses and they have roads, etc. You don’t need to run there. If you go there, you will just go and wash toilets and plates”. He advised young entrepreneurs to rather stay back home and take advantage of the situation.

Wale Ajisebutu, in his presentation to the Startups, gave the narrative of Nigeria as a country blessed by God, with lots of opportunities, which, unfortunately, the citizens are only seeing and complaining about as problems.

He noted that “It was individuals that developed America and not the government”. He gave the example of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who invested in and built railroads, John D. Rockefeller Snr, who invested in the oil and oil pipeline business and J. P. Morgan, who invested in the banking industry, all in America. He stated that a good example of such individual, doing a similar thing in Nigeria, is Aliko Dangote, who invested in problem areas in Nigeria and is today, the richest African in the world.

Alongside Mr Ajisebutu, the second guest speaker at the event was Dr Nkiru Balonwu, the Managing Partner, RDF, a Consultancy outfit.

Dr Balonwu stated that Startups need to be determined and stay focused, as these are key to achieving what they want to achieve. “Be sure of what you want to do and set milestones for the achievement of goals”, she emphasised. She admonished the Startups to note each achievement as they are met and also know why those that are not met were not met and see to it that they are met in the end.

She made it known to the Startups that, from her own experience at starting her own business outfit, not everyone will encourage them in their quest, but they should not be deterred. She advised them to seek for sponsors and mentors, but should also be ready to give them something in return. Dr Balonwu also advised Startups to make solving their clients’ problems the centre of their existence.

CFA’s Startups Hangout is an event that brings Startups together to learn how to run and grow their businesses from invited successful entrepreneurs, as well as network with each other. The October 2017 Edition of the CFA’s Startups Hangout really lived up to its billing, as the Startups were fed with priceless nuggets on how to run their businesses successfully and improve their lives and uplift the nation.