Fides Media Living the Faith
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Anambra State Government has called on youths to focus on entrepreneurship and key into emerging trends in running businesses to drive themselves into economic sustainability.
It identified entrepreneurship as a cardinal means of stimulating the economic growth of any progressive nation of which youths must be active players.
The State Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Prof Theresa Obiekezie, made this known while presenting her address of welcome during a ceremony staged to mark this year’s World Entrepreneurs Day at King David Hotels, Awka.
‘Entrepreneurs play major roles in the economic growth of any nation by bringing new ideas and innovation to the market.
‘Youths need to be innovative and creative in finding different ways to face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and take advantage of the opportunities it has brought so as to successfully embrace the new normal,’ Prof Obiekezie said
While describing the theme of the celebration, “Initiative for Entrepreneurship Innovations – Time to Embrace the New Normal”, as very timely, she challenged youths to explore trending digital space businesses to earn decent living.
She stated that the present administration had initiated different programmes to help build young entrepreneurs, including the “One Youth, One Skill” project of which no fewer than 900 youths had benefitted.
The Commissioner urged budding entrepreneurs to source for credit facilities through various government supported agencies like Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA) to develop and flourish the startup environment across the state.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Louisa Ezeanya, appreciated the state government for sponsoring the event to impact on the lives of youths.
She expressed optimism that the lecture series lined up for celebration would yield the desired effect of producing many more youthful entrepreneurs in the nearest future.
Earlier in one of the lectures anchored on the theme for the celebration, Dr Ikechukwu Umeh underscored the importance of innovation to the success of any business.
He explained that the new normal concept required technology driven approach and applications in all fields of endeavour for optimal productivity and service delivery.
While listing the prerequisites for entrepreneurial process, he urged budding entrepreneurs to be creative and do things differently to enable them to be active competitors in their businesses.
The event featured presentation of Trade Test Certificate from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity by the Commissioner to graduands of skill acquisition programmes sponsored by the state government.