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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
As part of effort towards driving economic growth through youth empowerment in Nigeria, major industry stakeholders have urged young people to adopt a transformative mindset in order to overcome the country’s economic challenges and unlock their full potential.
These prominent thought leaders and entrepreneurs disclosed this during the Mindset Re-engineering Conference 3.0, organized by Center for Attitudinal Change, (CFAO) held in Lagos recently, with the theme: MindShift:” For Leaders and Business Growth”.
One of the speakers, a renowned financial expert and Founder Woodhall Capital International, Mrs Mojiaola Hunponu-Wusu presented a paper on “Innovative Leadership: Fostering a Culture of Creativity and Disruption” Sharing her success story how she was able to raise $5billion within 10 years, she began operations.
Hunponu-Wusu said she paid the price of unemployment, shame, humiliation, rejection among other disruptive hurdles before a business breakthrough that changed her live. We need an institutional mindset as industry key players and start-up as long as you are an entrepreneur.
She emphasized the need for young people to think outside the box explore new opportunities in the midst of economic uncertainty. He encouraged them to embrace change and adapt to new ways of doing things, rather than being held back by fear or inertia.
Hunponu-Wusu ignited the audience with her inspiring story of turning adversity into purpose, said: “Your mind is the most important thing and how you choose to use your mind, what you put in your mind, what you educate your mind, what you consume can actually determine how far or how fast you go in life.
“And, I am sharing today a little bit of my journey and how I turned what I knew or what I thought was everlasting pain. And I made a conscious decision to change my mind about that pain and to turn it to discover my own purpose. It’s not easy to discover all the time because you need to go through that pain.
“That pain is not what anybody wants to go through, but at the end of it or in the middle of it, something explodes.
And then you realize that that pain was not personal, it didn’t happen to you, it happened for you and then you begin to discover your purpose,” she said.
Hunponu-Wusu challenged attendees, particularly young people, to embrace a fighting spirit and strive for greatness.
Meanwhile, Convener/Founder, CFAC, Raphael Ayua, delivered a compelling call to action for a mindset shift in Nigeria, stressing the critical role of individual responsibility in national development.
Ayua said: “I have discovered that if you look at great nations, it’s not about natural resources, it’s about great minds. Look at Dubai, it’s in a desert, the great minds have turned this land into a paradise. Look at Israel, there’s no natural resources, but look at what great minds have done.
“So, I think what makes a nation great is not the natural resources, but is the attitude of the people and of the leaders and we have all the natural resources.
“Look at the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are one of the richest countries when it comes to natural resources, but yet, they’re one of the poorest nations in the world. So, what makes a nation great is the mind,” Ayua added.
“Nigeria boasts a significant advantage as it harbors one of the world’s most sizable populations of young individuals
While the government has initiated various programs to accelerate the development of young people, youth empowerment in Nigeria remains a mixed picture. Despite successes, there is a pressing need for a more comprehensive and sustainable framework to empower the youth effectively.
“Empowering the youth in Nigeria is not just a socio-economic imperative but a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future prosperity.
On his part CEO of Practivate,
Mr. Toni Olumide, offered a beacon of optimism in the face of Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Olumide stressed that entrepreneurs to cultivate a positive mindset and explore opportunities within the burgeoning technology sector. Olumide emphasized the need for a supportive ecosystem to nurture tech talent and drive innovation.
Another speaker, CEO, Knowledge Digest Africa, Mr. Samson Olatunde, a seasoned marketing strategist, emphasized the critical importance of personal branding for individuals in all fields, not just leaders.
He argued that a strong personal brand is essential for visibility, credibility, and attracting opportunities.
Olarunde highlighted the power of positive thinking and self-belief in achieving personal and professional success. She stressed the importance of setting ambitious goals and working hard to achieve them, while also remaining open to collaboration and learning from others.
” Nigerian youth have the power to shape their own future and make a positive impact on society. By embracing a transformative mindset, staying resilient in the face of challenges, and pursuing their goals with passion and determination, they can overcome obstacles and achieve their full life potential”, he pointed out.
