During the event, participants engaged in panel discussions and presentations to strengthen their thinking faculties and prepare them for real-life situations in their respective sectors of operation. Dignitaries, including Segun Majekodunmi, head of entrepreneurship development, Whyte Isimeme, CEO of Genius Hub and Africa's top 50 'MSME' founder, and Ukinebo Dare from Mastercard, graced the occasion alongside many young entrepreneurs.
Ukinebo Dare, the chairperson of the event, emphasized the importance of courage and seizing opportunities to advertise products and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs. She urged business owners to be resilient and establish legal structures for their businesses to mitigate the fear of failure.
The Edojobs Business Networking series, which is held quarterly, aims to provide support and encouragement to business owners in Edo State. Through the programme, entrepreneurs have access to internal and external funding opportunities, market expansion programmes, capacity building, business advisory services, and mentorship.
Numerous entrepreneurs shared their success stories from attending previous networking series seminars, highlighting the positive impact it had on their businesses. Priscilla Joy, a foodstuff distributor, mentioned that the training programmes helped her write a business plan, establish valuable networks, and promote her new products in the market. Ugo Micheal, CEO of Foodkeep Enterprise and a student, also attested to the vital knowledge gained from the seminars.
The event also featured a brain teaser question where the audience was asked to guess the identity of a guest speaker whose profile was not announced. Patience Okosun, a business entrepreneur from Uromi, Edo State, won the challenge when the second guest was revealed to be Ukinebo Dare, chair of the board of EdoJobs. Florence Ehi, another entrepreneur, earned airtime rewards for her participation.
Furthermore, a networking session provided entrepreneurs with a friendly environment to interact and advertise their products and services. Attendees were treated to the movie 'Joy,' which showcased the journey of a young divorced female entrepreneur to become a successful business owner.
In his closing remarks, Whyte Isimeme encouraged entrepreneurs to be persistent and unashamed in marketing their products. He emphasized the value of attending training and seminars to enhance their business knowledge and skills.
The event concluded with Dare Ukinebo announcing the 20 finalists who qualified for the first-quarter scorecard challenge. The top three winners received N500,000 each, and the top 20 nominees present at the event were awarded N50,000 each. The Business Networking Series continues to empower and uplift young entrepreneurs in Edo State, contributing to the growth and expansion of their brands.