Anyaso Advocates Entrepreneurship as Key to Individual, Community Advancement

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia 

As Nigerians battle for survival in the current harsh economic environment, worsened by youth unemployment, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Caades Group, Chief Desmond Anyaso, has called for “a renewed focus on entrepreneurship”.

He made the call in his address entitled ‘Entrepreneurship for self and community development’ delivered at the Abia Youths’ Extraordinary Convention 2024, organised in Umuahia by the Progressive Abia Youths(PAY). 

The convention with the theme: ‘The youth: the present and future of democracy, was “aimed at galvanizing the potentials” of the Abia youth population by bringing the “brightest minds” in the state to share their experiences.

Drawing from his experience as a successful businessman with diverse interests in the downstream oil and gas sector, property, hospital business, among others, Anyaso stated that entrepreneurship would unlock and harness the potentials of youths.

 “We must place a renewed focus on entrepreneurship as a driving force for both personal and communal advancement,” he said, adding, “there is a huge need to explore the world of entrepreneurship profitably in Nigeria starting from our communities.”

Anyaso, who was the Abia State deputy governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2023 general election, charged youths to take their destinies in their own hands by embracing entrepreneurship.

He said as agents of change,  the young generation should “not just sit down and complain about the challenges we face in our nation” but should go out there and carve out their own space in the global economy.

According to him, youth unemployment “is still one of the most pressing issues of our time”, noting solutions could be found “in the form of products or services by harnessing boundless opportunities around us”.

“Today, I challenge every one of you to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset, not just as a career choice but as a way of life,” he charged Abia youths.

Anyaso, who was honoured at the event with the award of Distinguished Leader of Abia Youths, emphasised the need for the youths to embrace entrepreneurship, saying “when we channel our entrepreneurial spirit towards community development, we become catalysts for change.”

The businessman cum politician stressed the need for mentorship of prospective youth entrepreneurs, saying, “it is important to note that true success is not measured in isolation but in the positive impact on the lives of those around us.”

He urged Abia youths to embark on their entrepreneurial journey “with purpose, passion, innovation, collaboration, social responsibility, resilience, and boundless success.”

“As we embark on this collective journey of entrepreneurship for self and community development, let us not forget the incredible potential we hold as a united force. 

“Together, we can be the architects of change, the champions of progress, and the catalysts for a future that we can be proud to call our own,” he said.

Earlier in his opening address, the President General of PAY, Mr. Kingsley Ekejiuba, described the organisation as “an assemblage of first-class Abia Youths who are deeply committed to the development and progress of our state.”

He said that the group has, through democratic programmes, community engagement, and good governance advocacy,

continued to promote peace, unity, progress, and sustainable empowerment of Abia.

The youth convention featured panel discussions, interactive sessions, policy recommendations, youth empowerment opportunities, all geared “to champion positive democratic change and all-round development”.