The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) says it will organise a Summit/Bootcamp for over 1000 young professionals across the Niger Delta region to cross-fertilise ideas on business development.
Mr Moses Siasia said on Wednesday that the summit would be specially designed to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on June 27, to bring together a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts.
Siasia said that the theme of the summit ‘Building a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Self-reliance Beyond Oil’, was designed to help entrepreneurs know the best way to wriggle out of the current economic challenges faced in the country.
He said the experts would examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.
Siasia said this year’s event is strategic, as it coincides with the 2024 United Nations World MSME Day.
‘The World MSME Day is specially marked to create a platform to discuss and exchange ideas.
‘The ideas are on how key stakeholders, including policy makers,
large companies, financial institutions, and the international community can support micro, small and medium-sized businesses to advance the 2030 Agenda.
‘It also contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication and decent work for all.
‘The Niger Delta MSME Summit/Bootcamp is a sustained initiative that has been creating enormous opportunities and growth for young MSME owners in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region,’ Siasia said.
According to him, the event will enable a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts to examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.
He noted that in spite of lack of support from the governments in the region, poor management of MSMEs, high-interest loans from banks, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure, the initiative had pulled through with sustainable impacts over the years.
Siasia said that Mr Summy Francis, the President of Africa’s Young Ent
repreneurs (A.Y.E.) would be speaking at the event.
‘Other speakers include Mr Temitope Runsewe, the CEO of Dutum Company Limited; Mrs Esther Adebayo, President of the Women Agro Processors, Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN).
‘Mr Otuya Okecha, CEO Firbesol Nigeria Limited; Dr Martins Fregene, Director of Agriculture, African Development Bank, among others, will also be speaking at the event.
‘The summit is expected to ‘ignite the next generation through expanding entrepreneurial culture in the Niger Delta region.
‘Participants for the summit will be drawn from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, as past editions produced positive results which are indication of secured future of entrepreneurs in the oil-rich region.
‘This year’s event would feature product exhibitions, grants, bootcamp, main-stage keynotes, panel discussions, interactive master sessions, style breakout.
‘There will also be a business-to-business meetings, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities featuring outstandi
ng line-up of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and business leaders from top brands.’
Siasia noted that the beneficiaries of past editions, many of whom have received grants to grow their businesses, have been able to grow a huge business capital and create employment opportunities for other prospective MSMEs.
‘The inaugural edition of the summit held in 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had over 400 Niger Deltans benefitting from the NIRSAL Intervention Loan for small business owners in the area of Agriculture, Creative Industry and ICT.
‘In the second edition held in Asaba, Delta State in 2022, and the third edition in 2023 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, the NDYP gave out grants to innovative businesses,’ Siasia added.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria