It was a pour of emotions, appreciation and testimonies as the Business and Leadership boot camp organised by the lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Hon Bamidele Salam for 400 entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders came to an end on Saturday.
InsightMedia recalls that the programme which commenced on Thursday in Osogbo, focused on training 400 young graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs in Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, and Ejigbo Federal Constituency on how to make their businesses global.
The final day of the event featured thought-provoking and eye-opening sessions by the Regional Head of Fidelity Bank, Mr Bayo Adeyinka and renowned entrepreneur and lawmaker, Akin Alabi.
No fewer than 27 participants, who are already in business, displayed their products during an exhibition.
The third and final day of the programme started with session on how to register their business, the principles that guide registration and its connection with business branding.
The session educated the participants on the advantages of registering their business to the proper authority while emphazing on the disadvantages of doing otherwise and some of the participants who have registered business for five years and above were presented with gifts.
During his session, Mr Adeyinka extensively lectured on the common mistakes to avoid while doing business in Nigeria. He spoke about how strategy, financial knowledge, manpower development and structure are key factors in building any sustainable businesses.
The Founder of Nairabet, Akin Alabi encouraged the participants to go explore digital platforms and the advantage brought by social media as it is one of the best ways to gain exposure and hit any target market.
The facilitator of the programme, Hon Bamidele Salam commended the participants for their dedication to learning and for showing readiness to put what they have learned into practice.
Salam said, “ As the convener of this programme, I’ve seen a whole lot of things to be done to bring the dreams of people into reality and that is why we have agreed to have a continuous programme which will cover various aspects of learning and that is why in addition we will be having a continuous mentorship program for 100 participants that will cover various segments of talents.”
“I want to encourage anyone with that capacity and resources to do this type of programme not to hesitate to do such and also want encourage the government to subsidize business initiatives in order to have more entrepreneurs.”
Attendee of previous edition gives testimony
Mr Adereto Akintayo one of the past participant of the first edition of the bootcamp gave his testimony on how the knowledge and skills acquired then has helped him become a business man.
Akintayo said his proposal won the prize as one of the best and funds helped his stabilize his business. “It (my business) has my main source of livelihood and I also encourage the present participants to work hard and stay consistent. I now have no fewer than four staff that work with me. This is as a result of what I got here.”
“The boot camp had a great impact on my career, I was chanced to be part of the first edition and now I’m into different aspects of agriculture and even now I have four people who work for me and I really want to appreciate the initiative from Hon Bamidele Salam”.
Participants appreciate Rep Salam
Participants at the event were full of appreciation to Rep Bamidele Salam for the event.
Sulaimon Adisa from Ejigbo local government spoke about how helpful the experience has been for him, adding that he’s eager to move into the business world.
“The experience is a good one and very enlightening one. It has helped me to know some of the things my business lack and how to go about achieving them. I look forward to putting the knowledge into practice.”
Akano Adenike another participant from Egbedore local government commended Salam for his good works and how much it has helped her.
“ My eyes were opened to various opportunities which I can make use of going forward and I was especially motivated by people who shared their experiences. I also want to appreciate the organizer of the program and pray the lord will continue to help him”.
To Adesola Nafisat Adenike, a fashion designer from Ede South, the bootcamp will help her grow.
She said, “The bootcamp provided valuable knowledge and skills that will undoubtedly have a positive impact on my business and leadership journey. Your commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs and leaders is truly commendable, and I am grateful for the guidance and support you have provided.
“Thank you for your dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and leadership excellence. The BS-E4 Business and Leadership Bootcamp 2024 was a transformative experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated.”
Another participant, Abdulrahman Kabiru Adekunle from Ede North said, “This initiative to host such an event speaks volumes about his (Salam’s) dedication to empowering our community and fostering economic growth.
“The Bootcamp provided invaluable opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and emerging leaders to enhance their skills, gain practical insights, and network with industry professionals. I was particularly impressed by exposure to so many things, intern of business and so many things that have not come across ever in my life.
“Salam’s commitment to equipping individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to succeed in business and leadership roles is truly commendable.”
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