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| Chairman, NOVA Merchant Bank Limited and Convocation Lecturer, Mr. Phillips Oduoza (left) being received by the President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University , Ilisan Remo, Professor Adeola S. Tayo on his arrival in Babcock University for its University Convocation Lecture held at Ilisan Remo on Wednesday |
In order to start and build a successful business, aspiring
entrepreneurs and business owners have been advised to be courageous and
resilient, two necessary conditions for overcoming obstacles critical to
business growth and success. The Chairman of NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, Mr.
Phillips Oduoza gave the advice on Wednesday 30th of May 2018
while delivering the Convocation Lecture to the 2017/2018 Leo Graduating Class
at Babcock University in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.
entrepreneurs and business owners have been advised to be courageous and
resilient, two necessary conditions for overcoming obstacles critical to
business growth and success. The Chairman of NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, Mr.
Phillips Oduoza gave the advice on Wednesday 30th of May 2018
while delivering the Convocation Lecture to the 2017/2018 Leo Graduating Class
at Babcock University in Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.
Mr. Oduoza, who was the former Group Managing Director/CEO of
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, said “Courage and Resilience are character
traits common amongst all entrepreneurs who have been successful as it enabled
them to take risks and overcome various obstacles on the road to success.”
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, said “Courage and Resilience are character
traits common amongst all entrepreneurs who have been successful as it enabled
them to take risks and overcome various obstacles on the road to success.”
Explaining further, Mr. Oduoza stated courage is not the absence
of fear but the ability to persist in spite of it while resilience is the
ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.
of fear but the ability to persist in spite of it while resilience is the
ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.
Mr. Oduoza challenged Nigerian youths to take advantage of
opportunities currently available in the country, especially in agriculture,
FinTech, arts and entertainment. “The government’s focus on the diversification
of the Nigerian economy has created opportunities across the agriculture value
chain for aspiring entrepreneurs covering inputs (e.g. fertilizer), farming,
storage, processing, manufacturing and transportation. The tech startup
ecosystem in Nigeria is awash with opportunities for young entrepreneurs to
create innovative solutions to address many of the structural issues facing the
country. Emerging areas such as FinTech, the sharing economy, artificial
intelligence amongst others present opportunities to start innovative
businesses,” he said.
opportunities currently available in the country, especially in agriculture,
FinTech, arts and entertainment. “The government’s focus on the diversification
of the Nigerian economy has created opportunities across the agriculture value
chain for aspiring entrepreneurs covering inputs (e.g. fertilizer), farming,
storage, processing, manufacturing and transportation. The tech startup
ecosystem in Nigeria is awash with opportunities for young entrepreneurs to
create innovative solutions to address many of the structural issues facing the
country. Emerging areas such as FinTech, the sharing economy, artificial
intelligence amongst others present opportunities to start innovative
businesses,” he said.
On what graduands and aspiring entrepreneurs could learn from
his personal life, Mr. Oduoza said young business leaders should seek
knowledge, build a strong network, be true to themselves but most
importantly “must work very hard, no matter how intelligent you are. It is very
rare to find a successful person who is not a hard-working person. There is no
substitute for hard work.”
his personal life, Mr. Oduoza said young business leaders should seek
knowledge, build a strong network, be true to themselves but most
importantly “must work very hard, no matter how intelligent you are. It is very
rare to find a successful person who is not a hard-working person. There is no
substitute for hard work.”
Also speaking at the event Professor Adeola S.
Tayo, the President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo eulogized
the person of Phillips Oduoza, who he described as a loyal friend of the
institution, acknowledging his efforts in forging a good relationship between
Babcock University and his former institution.
Tayo, the President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo eulogized
the person of Phillips Oduoza, who he described as a loyal friend of the
institution, acknowledging his efforts in forging a good relationship between
Babcock University and his former institution.
“There is no better person to speak at this event than Mr.
Oduoza who having had a successful tenure as CEO of one of Africa’s largest
financial institutions, midwifed the birth of a new Merchant Bank which has
achieved many feats in its first year of operation.”
Oduoza who having had a successful tenure as CEO of one of Africa’s largest
financial institutions, midwifed the birth of a new Merchant Bank which has
achieved many feats in its first year of operation.”
