Encouraging Entrepreneurship at YALI Network Face2Face ‘Africa-Rising’ Event (PHOTOS)

by Oluwatamilore Oshodi

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI Network Face2Face) Africa-Rising Event took place on Monday June 11, 2016 with the attendance of Nigeria’s industries’ top leaders including Patrick Utomi. Solid discussions were held over the present and expected future of the political and economic status of Nigeria.

The agenda for the day mainly centered on encouraging interest in good governance and paths Nigeria should take, from a youth perspective.

Olakunle Soriyan started of the session with a highlight on practices to be adopted in order to provoke change in society. He revealed that though individuals must acknowledge their harsh realities, a push towards change must be foremost. This includes attending workshops, symposiums, seminars, events etc.

Acclaimed speaker for the day, Professor Patrick Utomi expanded more on the initiative, noting, “What has happened in Nigeria in the last four years has prevented the economy from growing due to foolish choices. Look at the excuse we are giving about the drop in oil price. Do you know what oil prices were when former President Olusegun Obasanjo came to power?  We have learnt to spend recklessly without saving; they bought private jets and some people were stupid enough to buy three to show who they were.”

He further said, “Leaders are not people who tar roads. Any moron can sign a cheque and ask Julius Berger to tar roads. Leadership is about shaping culture so that there is human progress. The kind of value you have as a country determines (your) economic performance. It is the leaders that will initiate those values.

“Everything in our country is reduced to politics. The biggest danger to Nigeria is the overrating of politics and government. I can actually prove with case studies that the government is more responsible for preventing progress in Nigeria than for making it happen. This is not because these men hate Nigeria.

“A man cannot give what he doesn’t have. They are working hard for the good of this country but systematically preventing good from taking place because of their limitations.”

Utomi noted that countries such as the United States are successful because of a heavier reliance on entrepreneurial growth in the economy.

“Most countries are not making progress because they don’t have institutional arrangements; they do not make it easier for people with no money, power to emerge with their ideas that will destroy today’s dominant players.”

Managing Editor of Y!/YNaija.com, Isime Esene spoke on YNaija’s role in the encouragement of youth and promotion of their responsibilities in Nigerian polity. Also, divulging further on the impact of some of YNaija.com’s content offering including Y!Politico, Y!Naira&Kobo and Y!Tech100.

The event was organized by the United States Consulate with the co-operation of the President Barack Obama Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI Network Face2Face), Political and Economic Leadership Academy (PELA) and the Mandela Washington Fellowship‎ Alumni and YALI Regional Leadership Centre Alumni Group in Nigeria.

Below are photos of the event and its attendees.

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The group stands for the American and Nigerian National Anthem

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Austin Emeanua

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Isime Esene

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Managing Editor of Y!/YNaija.com, Isime Esene

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Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulte General, Frank Sellin

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Dr. Freeman Osonuga

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Olakunle Soriyan

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Professor Pat Utomi
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Question time

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Photo Session with Isime Esene, Professor Pat Utomi, Godbless Otubure and Olakunle Soriyan (L-R)

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Photo Session

IMG_3228Photo Session with Isime Esene, Frank Sellin, Dami Moyela, Austin Emeanua, Elda David Samuel (L-R)

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