By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
Akwa Ibom youths have been admonished to leverage the several business opportunities presented by the state government to boost their entrepreneurial dreams.
The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who gave the charge, weekend, during the opening ceremony of the 2025 edition of Ibom Ignite conference, which took place at Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development, Ibom-LED, Centre along IBB Avenue, Uyo, with the theme, “Ignite to Accelerate,” encouraged youths to remain focused and imbibe the culture of purposeful existence by developing passion in pursuit of their goals.
Eno recalled how he initiated the Royalty Group with five rooms in 1995, and the growth it has currently undergone, describing himself as a true Akwa Ibom brand, having excelled in his enterprise.
The governor, who was the visioner of the conference, also recalled how the conference, initiated in 2017, as a Church vision, has inspired several youths to the path of self-development.
On the impact of good leadership in the society, Eno stressed the need for critical examination of followership, as a major key to success.
“It was just a vision, a Church vision to encourage our young people. I was just tired of seeing young people having a sense of entitlement, young people being angry with themselves like the world is owing them, or that there is something they must receive. So I said to young people in the Church, let us begin to work with you; let us show you how we can get things done.
“I remember at some point, God gave me the grace to write a book, ‘Wealth Creation: God’s Way,’ and we used that to encourage our young people. And, as the Pastor said, we now began to tell our own stories because we must be able to tell our stories. I am a true Akwa Ibom brand. When you talk of an Akwa Ibom brand, see me standing here.
“You must learn as a young person to start somewhere. That’s why our first theme of the conference was, ‘Ignite Your Passion.’ You must have a passion for something. Something must be driving you, and if you are pursuing something, you must face it. I didn’t go around looking for who to help me.
“If you believe in a dream, live for it and avoid distractions. Don’t listen to nay sayers. People would always say things. In fact, if they are not saying anything against you, turn around and look back, you are not in the right direction. But one thing I can assure you is that, the same people that say you are not doing well would applaud you when you succeed,” he added.
“Well, it is accepted that everything rises and falls around a leader, but honestly, we need to begin to look at followership too. A leader can have good intentions, but followership would be a problem.
“Today, as you come to this conference, I beg of you, don’t waste this opportunity. In our days, we didn’t have conferences like this. Government didn’t provide such opportunities as this. We just struggled on our own, but we have this idea that we could help other people so that they don’t go through what we went through,” he said.
The chief executive officer of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services, Obafemi Banigbe, noted that Akwa Ibom was blessed with numerous potentials and has all it takes to be the next hub for technology, sports, agriculture and the economic powerhouse of Nigeria.
Banigbe noted that the numerous possibilities and potentials cannot be actualised without vision, investment in human capital and action, admonishing young people to look beyond being the leaders of tomorrow, but builders of tomorrow, adopt the new approach of craving to make impact instead of headlines, collaborate instead of competing with each other, and take part in the deliberate effort at telling the African stories.
The general-secretary of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, Rev Godwin Amaowoh, urged youths to learn to start small and grow big, adding that while growing big, one must not forget those who were instrumental at any point of their growth.
Amaowoh called on them to take full advantage of the opportunity, and avoid gambling with time and resources.
Chairman of the central planing committee, Pastor Imo-abasi Jacob, described the theme for the 2025 conference as both symbolic and instructive, adding that every great leap begins with ignition – a spark of passion, purpose, and possibility.
Speakers, including the deputy country director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Obinaju Uchenna; senior special assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, O’rtega Ogra; rector, Dakadda Skills Acquisition Center, DASAC, Professor Enoidem Usoro; chief executive officer, Corporate Shepherd Ltd, Idorenyen Enang; managing director and chief executive officer of Ubotex, Ubong Obot; sole administrator, Ibom Paints Ltd, Ime Uwah; award winning journalist and permanent secretary, Ministry of Information, Akparawa James Edet, and Guinness World Records holder, broadcaster and writer, George Iniabasi Essien, presented papers at the 2-day conference.
Discussion about this post