Crusoe Osagie
The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Ikeja Chapter’s annual members’ week, which ended at the weekend harped on the need to empower the nation’s teeming unemployed youths with requisite skills to transform into viable businesses.
According to a statement issued to THISDAY by the institute, its annual conference, tagged “Challenges in the Nigerian Economy: Change and the anti-corruption fight”, also targeted developing capacity building and providing a forum for robust exchange of entrepreneurial and managerial ideas to drive entrepreneurship in the country.
A youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme where proficient and experienced trainers were present to facilitate and train participants who were both NIM and non-NIM members were featured.
“Nigerians especially the youths took advantage of this opportunity and learnt practical skills which can translate to viable businesses afterwards,” the report stated.
There was also be a business lecture where the theme of the event was exhaustively discussed, at the event that was graced by a seasoned economist and manager per excellence, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, who also doubled as the guest speaker for the forum.
“During the occasion, professional managers reviewed key economic issues and made practical recommendations for sustainable growth,” NIM said.
NIM further stated that in present times, with growing recognition that fiscal responsibility is the key to individual and national growth, there is need to examine the anti-corruption and change concepts which are hallmarks of the present administration.
“It is opined that everything rises and falls on leadership. Hence, the essence of leadership was surveyed in the light of recent developments in the country. Professional managers exchanged ideas and proffered pragmatic antidotes to present economic challenges,” NIM added.
The institute added that the role and relevance of professional managers in nation building was discussed intensively, saying no organisation or nation can advance without proper management.
“It is therefore imperative that Nigerian Institute of Management must continually debate on topical economic issues and participate professionally in the sustenance of a stable nation. We thereupon consider the theme for the 2016 NIM Ikeja Members’ Week very apt,” the institute said.
The statement gathered that in addition, the youth empowerment programme was principally to furnish young Nigerians with relevant skills with which to earn a living, noting that rather than perpetually seeking jobs when unemployment rates are soaring, these vocational abilities can be deployed for building successful businesses; hence producing more entrepreneurs.
