LADOL boss stirs entrepreneurs on economic growth

Giving the rapid growth in the world’s productive class young entrepreneurs have been called upon to take charge in driving the emerging global economic growth through spreading Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Amy Jadesimi, managing director of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), who made the call at the just concluded conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Young Professionals Leadership Forum (YPLF) held in Lagos, urged the youths to take advantage of the rapid spread of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in becoming self-sufficient.

Jadesimi, who pointed out that there will be a shift in business financing from multinationals to entrepreneurs and mid-sized companies in the next 15 years, added that the development will come with political challenges and social dislocation as the world adjusts to the new trend.

“Nigeria’s population will increase to 300 million and 60 percent of this number will fall below the age of 20 while the world’s population is expected to increase to a billion by 2050, and 25 percent of this population will be in Africa over the next 15 years.”

“Hard working, educated and entrepreneurial millennial in low income will be the ones to take up and create the 600 million new jobs the world needs between now and 2030. These jobs will be created by small medium enterprises (SMEs),” she said. According to her, companies and institutions have recognised the importance of funding and partnering with local SMEs in emerging markets from the smallest to the largest. “Young people all over the world have access to a huge range of resources which are the classes taught on YouTube for free to online conference and internships at a growing number of real private sector companies in Nigeria.”

To this end, she urged young people to set their goals right and be determined to be successful in any career of their pursuit, if only they are prepared to work hard.