Partnership, collaborations key to optimal productivity in S’East – Experts

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka

The long awaited 2023 edition of The Pivot Conference has ended with a call for stakeholders to exploit potentials that abound in Southeast through a collaborative business strategy and approach, www.odogwublog.com reports.

The Conference with theme: “From Challenges to Opportunities: Unveiling the Potentials in South-East Nigeria through Social Innovation,” held in Awka, the Anambra State capital during the weekend.

Experts at the event said collaborative business approach and partnership have become productive ways to grow and sustain businesses.  They also said by collaborating with partners, businesses can leverage shared resources, infrastructure, and capabilities, leading to optimized processes and increased productivity in the land. 

Precious Obimdi, one of the experts who spoke at the confab said the system in Nigeria is designed to strangle younger entrepreneurs and stop them from thriving in their businesses. He said partnerships with governments, agencies, and bigger establishments are ways of staying afloat and making impacts on human lives.

Speaking further, Obimdi who is the Chief Executive Officer, and CEO, Selecom LTD said doing business in the southeast is challenging due to insecurity and other challenges but maintained that one can explore, discover what is not working, and turn same into a thriving global venture.

Banking expert, Tochukwu Nwokediuko, said over 65 percent of businesses do not survive the first three years after set up in Nigeria due to poor access  to funding and credit facilities. He said other reasons are lack of planning and poor financial literacy on the part of some business owners in the country.

He emphasized the powers of partnership and collaboration, noting that the ability to understand and factor in them will define successful businesses in times to come.

Technology expert and Managing Director, of Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, said many opportunities abound in the ICT sector, but noted that without innovative spirit, teamwork, and partnership, one may find it hard to succeed in the business.

Speaking on “Fostering Youth-led Impact Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Growth,” Regional Coordinator, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Engr. Mrs. Chito Onuzulike said SMEs are a crucial component of the economy. She emphasized that mindset, action, and process are the three ingredients of entrepreneurship and are crucial to doing business in the country. 

Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Security, Ben Chiobi, advised the younger generation to shun the Japa syndrome and explore opportunities in the country.

He said more opportunities for making money abound in Nigeria particularly in Southeast than in other Western countries. He advised the youth to avail themselves of mentoring, noting that the only way to succeed in the ICT generation is to be disruptive and not be a copycat. 

Pastor Jude Obiekwe said the challenges are money in the making. “For every problem in the southeast, there is a direct opposite opportunity. The more the problem comes, the more the opportunity to create wealth; the easier the lesser. Adversity is the cultivator of innovation. You cannot be a champion except you fight battles.”

Earlier, Pivot Executive Director, Barr Ifedi Eze said The Pivot is an initiative born to be a platform that champions a paradigm shift within the context of a developing African landscape through facilitating thought-provoking conversations, encouraging innovative thinking, and promoting collaboration.