Elumelu challenges entrepreneurs on mentorship

Tony Elumelu, chairman, Heirs Holdings, has challenged entrepreneurs to mentor young Nigerians in order to bridge the expertise and capacity gap between both sides.

Elumelu, guest speaker at the Learning Event of Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO), held in Abuja, urged EO members to be a link and constantly pursue the motivation of young ones by nurturing them to be successful entrepreneurs.

Represented by Abimbola Adebakin, chief operating officer of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Elumelu said he believed that Nigerian entrepreneurs could achieve his own feat of becoming a bank branch manager at age 26 and owning a bank at 32.

He further said that his Foundation was committed to training and raising entrepreneurs.

On his part, EO’s global chairman, Gilberto Crombe, encouraged the Nigerian chapters to ensure the full integration of the entire African continent in the organisation, urging members to be committed to its ideas so as to bring other entrepreneurs onboard and work together for the progress of the organisation, stressing that “if we want to go far, we must go together.”

This, he said, they could do by raising other chapters in Nigeria and extending their reach to other West African countries.

The facilitator of the workshop session, Jamie Douraghy, who is chairman of EO’s Global Growth task team, while discussing the theme “Discover Your Why,” dwelled on the need for each entrepreneur to identify his or her reason for success in any desired endeavour.

He itemised ‘Nine Why’s’ which he said entrepreneur required to achieve their goals. These included: “Contribute, Trust, Make Sense and Better Way.” Others were: “Right way, Challenge, Master, Clarity and Simplify.”

In his remarks, Raymond Hurt, who represented James F. Entwistle, the US ambassador to Nigeria, said the US was ready to work with the EO in enhancing the business climate in Nigeria. He stated that proper coordination of EO members would assist the nation in the actualisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Five entrepreneurs were presented with awards of recognition for their selfless service to the growth of the organisation.

EO was founded in 1987 and now has 157 chapters in 51 countries. It is a global business network of over 12,000 leading entrepreneurs and serves as a catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs learn, grow, and go on to transform the world.

The global thought leadership group on entrepreneurship, EO plays an integral role in businesses, industries and the lives of leading entrepreneurs across the world.