Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, has advised students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) to prioritize entrepreneurship and wise investing over frivolous spending on luxury items like Brazilian hair and iPhones.
He made this call while speaking on the topic “The Evolution of Entrepreneurship and Benefits of an Entrepreneur in the Society” at the 22nd annual symposium of Excel Assembly Foundation, a student-based club.
Adeyemo emphasized that there are no more white-collar jobs waiting for graduates, and urged students to start thinking and acting like entrepreneurs.
He encouraged them to explore businesses like real estate, product marketing, and distribution, which can be started with zero capital, emphasizing the importance of faith, integrity, honesty, perseverance, and a “can-do” spirit.
He noted that despite the challenging business climate, it is still possible to start successful businesses with little or no capital, citing his own experience in real estate where he has paid commissions as high as N10 million to individuals who brought clients to his business.
Adeyemo identified the benefits of entrepreneurship as job creation, wealth generation, innovation, community development, problem-solving, and nation-building.
He stressed that good grades alone are not enough to succeed, and urged students to focus on building their character, taking advantage of globalization and technology, and launching their ideas and creativity into the global market.
Earlier, Mr. Akinbami Olawale, Premier of Excel Club, emphasized the importance of social capital, quality relationships, and integrity in achieving success in business and entrepreneurship.
The symposium aimed to inspire and equip students with the skills and mindset needed to succeed as entrepreneurs and leaders in their chosen fields.
