Post-oil economy: Young professionals plan MSME summit in Port Harcourt
- Some young professionals in the Niger Delta are now focusing on making an impact beyond the oil sector
- The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum is helping to galvanise such groups to ensure they are guided on the right path
- Prominent Nigerians have been lined up to mentor the young citizens as they embark on an impactful economic journey
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo tops the list of prominent Nigerians who will grace a summit organised by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, NYPF, in Port Harcourt as Niger Delta youths begin plans for life beyond oil.
Chairman of NYPF, Moses Siloko Siasia told journalists including a Legit.ng reporter on Friday, January 22 that the summit will champion a new narrative towards stimulating the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs in the Niger Delta region.
He added that the event which was earlier planned for March 2020 was moved to Friday, February 12, due to the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Facebook
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
According to Moses who is a former governorship candidate in Bayelsa state, the event with the theme: Stimulating MSME Growth Beyond Oil will be the biggest MSMEs summit in the region.
He added that the summit will host over 300 carefully selected MSMEs /small business owners across all the states in the region who will attend in person, while others will join the conference virtually, in conformity with the COVI9-19 preventive guidelines and protocols.
Siasia noted that, amongst other things, the summit is meant to help generate a database of all the existing MSME sin the region while galvanizing stakeholders buy-in for the strengthening of businesses operating in the Niger Delta region to facilitate their sustainable growth.
His words:
“The only hope for the region right now is to encourage those doing meaningful businesses. The society has neglected productivity for too long.
“More people of good character and competence should be encouraged to emerge in the region and in which case young people with great ideas and skills can be enabled by the various governments of the region and the Multinational Oil Companies operating within the region.”
He added that the summit will be attended by young business owners between the ages of 18 and 45, saying it will include product showcase, main-stage keynotes, interactive sessions, style breakouts, business to business meetings, mentoring sessions, and networking opportunities.
Also scheduled to attend the summit is the Deputy Senate President Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the interim administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Effiong Akwa.
The governor of Rivers state, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, is the chief host while Engr. Simi Wabote, Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB will feature as guest speaker.
Recall that VP Osinbajo recently declared that the Buhari administration’s vision to lift at least 20 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next two years is now close at hand.
Professor Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday, January 19 in Abuja during the virtual flag-off of a cash transfer scheme initiated by the federal government.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that Osinbajo's recent virtual meeting with a Microsoft Corporation team led by its president, Mr Brad Smith on Friday, January 8 generated excitement among young Nigerians on social media.
The tech giant is committed to partnering with the federal government in its Economic Sustainability Plan, prompting massive reactions among young people in the country.
People mock me because of my work - female welder | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
