By Sam Esogwa
Not less than 2000 businessmen and women from different parts of the world are set to converge in Port Harcourt for a business summit from October 29 to 31, 2019.
The business summit, which will be taking place at L.A. Kings Events Place, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, is tagged OGACONN International Entrepreneur Business Summit.
Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director/CEO, OGACONN, Amb. Dr Larry-Goodwill Akintob A jiola, said the summit would also bring together a pool of businessmen from different parts of the world for sharing of experiences, cross-pollination of ideas and creation of partnerships for business growth.
“It is a conference that brings together the entire entrepreneurs in Nigeria and exposes them to businessmen/women in other parts of the world. The 3 days event presents an opportunity for all the Community Development Chairmen, Oil Producing companies, Oil & Gas contractors, intending contractors and all stakeholders and SMEs in the economy. This is the opportunity to be educated on the key issues causing problems between host communities, oil-producing companies and SMEs and contractors as well as the solutions and ways out of the problem,” he explained.
On the objectives of the company and what it hopes to achieve through the conference, Larry-Godwill Ajiola said they include strengthening the SMEs and contractors and oil and gas producing companies’ relationship, promoting cordial relationship and investment patronage and services, attracting investment capital into the sector as a boost to the Nigerian economy and facilitating the growth of community-based companies in the upstream oil and gas sector.
He said there would be special awards during the summit while government institutions and corporate organizations will have the opportunity of making presentations.
“There will be special awards for 27 SMEs/CONTRACTORS and oil and gas producing companies across the states,” he said.
Dr Larry, who bemoaned the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, warned that the menace would not be eradicated until graduates are supported to start businesses of their own, adding that unemployment is one of the problems his company intends to solve by encouraging all Nigerians, especially the youths, to become entrepreneurs.
“Unemployment will continue to increase until graduates are supported to start their own businesses. We were the first to launch entrepreneurship programme in Rivers State before the federal government bought into it during the Jonathan government. If we become entrepreneurs, we can forge ahead despite the hardship in the country. Everybody should become an entrepreneur,” he said.
