Billionaire Businesswoman and Philanthropist, Apostle Folorunsho Alakija, has described purposeful engagement of youths in entrepreneurship as the only way to reduce unemployment in the country.
She mentioned that it is high time the older generations created space for the younger generations in the country, urging them to actively involve the youths in governance, leadership, administration and policy-making.
Alakija declared this yesterday at the Unemployment Summit organised by Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA), tagged: ‘Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship.’
Held at the International Event and Culture Centre (The Dome), Akure, other guest speakers included the Founder of LaCampagne Tropicana, Wanle Akinboboye; founder Strategic Solutions, Nancy Aragbaye and Chairman Bellagio Cargo Airline, Dr. Oludare Akande.
Also, the founder Helena Oil, Tein Jack-Rich; the MD, FFA Resort & ED, Karis Group of Companies, Dr. Funke Felix-Adejumo; the CEO, Kilentar, Michelle Adepoju; Ibukun Awosika and the founder of Africa’s Leadership University, Fred Swaniker.
Alakija, who is the Grand Patron of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), listed the negative impacts of unemployment to include insecurity, terrorism, bloody protest, hunger amongst others, saying it has sparkled off global unrest.
She mentioned that unemployment should not be handled with kids’ gloves, but curtailed through creation of jobs by the instrumentality of entrepreneurship.
The guest speaker, who was also adjudged as second richest woman in Africa, lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for taking more systematic approach to reduce unemployment in the country by establishing an entrepreneurial village in the state.
“It is, therefore time for us, the old generation, to step back and allow the younger generation to take over. If we need our country to take its rightful place in the community of nations, we must innovate the youths and allow them to participate.
She described the energy, innovative tendencies, spirits and powers of the youths as recipe for nation-building and development, urging governments at all levels to give the youths opportunity to serve.
While declaring the summit open, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said his administration is determined to pushing the people of the state out of poverty and unemployment through entrepreneurship knowledge economy, innovation and technology.
He expressed his readiness to invest more in entrepreneurship development and provision of grants for startups and those badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
