Entrepreneurs’ Organization, the global thought leader in entrepreneurship, has called on business owners to look beyond the challenging economic climate in the country and explore the opportunities which abound in the weak economy.
President of the Lagos chapter of EO, Mr. Sunday Gbenjo, made the call recently, at the EO Lagos Learning Event, an experience sharing forum, featuring the President/CEO, Beloxxi Industries Limited, Mr. Obi Ezeude, which held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Gbenjo said: “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Rather than worrying and complaining about this challenging time, this is the real time for entrepreneurs to come together and learn about the tools to weather the storm. It is when things are really tough that certain opportunities show up for discerning investors to tap.”
The event tagged, Tales by Moonlight: An Evening with Obi Ezeude, featured the Beloxxi CEO as the Guest Speaker as he shared with the entrepreneurs the moving story of his company, describing his story as a pure Nigerian story.
In his presentation titled, Zero to Hero: My Success Story, Ezeude spoke on the vision and idea behind Beloxxi, the No. 1 indigenous biscuit producing company, disclosing that he was able to transform the company from a humble beginning to a multi-million dollar empire within just a few years through his uncommon doggedness and by sticking, strictly , to core business values as well as his trust in God.
Speaking on his initial challenges, Ezeude said: “The problem in Nigeria is that you have a beautiful idea but nobody believes in you. So, it’s between you and your God.” He encouraged the entrepreneurs present at the event not to give up on their dreams and visions but learn from his story, saying nothing is impossible with discipline, doggedness and trust in God.
Welcoming the entrepreneurs to the unique event, which captures the African setting with Ezeude sitting at the centre like an elder, the Finance Chair, EO Lagos, Saidu Basharu, urged members to learn from the business template of the Beloxxi boss, whom he described as a good role model.
“In EO, everything is possible…we like to be creative. But as a member, you are not allowed to advise, rather, we share experience,” Basharu said.
On his part, the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards, GSEA Chair of the organization, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale, MFR while introducing the Guest Speaker, described Ezeude as “an entrepreneur who shares leadership based on values.”
On the significance of the event, which held the entrepreneurs spell-bound throughout the evening , the Learning Chair and immediate past president, EO Lagos, Anthony Okoye, said the learning event is a monthly event for entrepreneurs to share their experiences.
“In this edition, “we were able to get a Nigerian entrepreneur who, through his innovation and doggedness, was able to transform himself from zero to hero and it was quite inspiring for everybody,” Okoye said.
On the lessons for everybody, Communications Chair of the organization, Dele Nedd, said: “ If you have an idea, don’t give up on it; difficulties should not be a dead end but an opportunity to innovate; always plan for the future; maintain a culture of excellence and merit and always hire the right people.”
Entrepreneurs’ Organization, EO is a global thought leader on entrepreneurship with over 12,000 members in 54 countries and plays an integral role in businesses, industries and the lives of leading entrepreneurs worldwide.
Since its establishment in 1987, EO, which is the world’s only peer-to-peer network exclusively for entrepreneurs’ has been transforming the lives of the entrepreneurs who transform the world.
