Indimi Gives Recipe on Successful Entrepreneurship

The Founder of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Dr. Muhammadu Indimi, has said to be a successful businessman, one must learn to endure pain, loss, handle failure, make the right decisions, and equally have the wisdom to learn from mistakes and manage relationships.

Drawing from experience, Indimi, who is one of Africa’s most successful businessmen, said to succeed in business, one should not wish away partnership and collaboration in the long-term.

A statement by Sam Umukoro, the

Corporate Communications Manager,

Oriental Energy Resources Limited, said Indimi made this submission while sharing Lessons in Business, Leadership and Life at the May edition of the Nigeria in the World Seminar series sponsored by Harvard University’s Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs in Massachusetts, United States of America.

The statement said that the seminar organised by Jacob Olupona, a Professor of African and African American Studies in Harvard University, Indimi in his thought-provoking lecture brought to the fore valuable lessons he has learnt in life and business over time.

He said: “Life is indeed the best teacher and the lessons that it teaches are useful in your journey. You must learn to endure pain, loss, handle failure, make the right decisions, have the wisdom to learn from mistakes and manage relationships.  Life is one institution you never stop learning from.”

He said to be successful in life and business you must give your best consistently and believe in your vision: “Having a positive attitude has helped me in everything I have done in my life. Never give up even if the odds are against you.”

Indimi recalled his venture into the Nigerian oil and gas industry in 1991 when the government launched the indigenous concession programme in response to slumping oil prices and at a time when international oil companies were reluctant to invest in offshore oil blocks in the country.

He said: “It took over 20 years and many false starts and dead ends for me to get to the point where I could produce and reach first oil in 2011. Those 20 years were very uncertain. It required a lot of determination, perseverance and lots of money.”

The Nigerian business tycoon established the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation for purposeful and proactive intervention in education, food, shelter, crisis relief, rehabilitation and empowerment.

The Foundation has provided ongoing relief and assistance to many people whose lives have been disrupted by the insurgency in the North-eastern Nigeria.

In the Niger Delta, Oriental Energy spearheads social investments through scholarships, medical outreach, capacity building and sustainable development of its host communities. The company is currently building an estate called Oriental Village Mbo in Akwa Ibom State.

This consists of 100 housing units, a medical clinic and six learning centres. He said: “We are working towards completing and handing over the houses to beneficiaries from our host communities.”

Dr. Indimi’s presentation at the Harvard seminar attracted an audience comprising business leaders, academics, diplomats, faculty and students.