The Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, weekend, urged young and upcoming entrepreneurs to always stay focused on achieving their dreams regardless of the challenges of doing business in Nigeria.
He said this at the National Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with the theme: ‘Entrepreneurship, Job creation and Poverty Reduction,’ in Lagos.
Dangote who was represented by Group Executive Director, Stakeholders’ Management & Corporate Communications, Dangote Industries Ltd Mr. Mansur Ahmed, said that all entrepreneurs in the country face similar challenges, “therefore, focus should be on finding ways of moving the business forward and making it succeed, rather than dwelling on constraints.”
He maintained that young entrepreneurs must study and understand themselves and identify their skill, even as he challenged them to build the necessary skills and competence required to succeed. “Young entrepreneurs should think big, dream big and aim high,” he said.
On the theme, he said “the theme is quite apt, as the three terms are clearly interwoven. Entrepreneurs create jobs and when people are gainfully employed, the incidence of poverty is greatly reduced.
“This forum is coming at a time when Nigeria has been rated the largest economy in Africa with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $510billion (well above South Africa’s $350bn); the 26th largest economy in the world; and the leading destination for investment in Africa.”
However, he described the situation as a curious paradox that despite these excellent achievements, the level of unemployment in the country remains high.
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