IBUKUN AWOSIKA: LESSONS FROM A LEGENDARY ENTREPRENEUR
By: David Atilola
Tags: Business, Ibukun Awosika, Awosika, Education

“The generation of our fathers have been entrepreneurs for so long.” — Ibukun Awosika

Mrs. Awosika started her entrepreneurship calling with the carpentry industry selling just hand made furniture then, however she has always dreamt of working in a bank, maybe as a banker or otherwise. Unfortunately, she graduated as a chemical engineer from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and tried sending her application letters to financial institutions around the country, but after waiting for too long, she never had the opportunity to work with a bank in the early stage of her life.

This disappointment jeered Awosika to venture into the Wood industry and even few people really know she is the brain behind the security doors you see in entrance of most Nigerian banks.

However Awosika was made the General Manager of first bank early this year wish finally fulfilled her dream to be able to work in a bank but now as a director and not an ordinary banker.

Awosika had resigned from working with a furniture company because their value was not what she like, so she started her own company, aside leading first bank, she has various business investment.

Having achieved this much, she shares her top advice to young Nigerian entrepreneurs at the AYESA Conference in Lagos last week.

CREATE VALUE

Starting her first enterprise so many years ago with the intention of adding value to the society and fulfilling her dreams, she advise young entrepreneurs to follow in the same line, because business is about adding value. She said ‘as young people there are so many areas for you to create value for yourself and the community.’ This advice is the bedrock of contributing to the society, unlike most young people who has money has the first thought, Awosika advices that young people should think first about creating value.

BE A JOB CREATOR

As Nigeria is faced with many unemployment challenges, she advises the youth to stop thinking about graduating then looking for a job. She said ‘the problem of Nigeria now is due to the fact that thousands of graduate leave school to look for job.’ While most job could have been created while still in school, most successful start ups’ started while still in school.

TAKE RISK

My conclusion is that if you can’t take risk you cannot survive in this world, because entrepreneurship is about taking risk. Awosika said “every individual who is positively engaged is a person of risk in the society.” She reveals how she took so many risks in her career, while starting up.With this way young entrepreneurs should be keen about taking risk and expect it in their ladder to success.

BE EDUCATED, BUT DON’T DEPEND ON IT

Like many Nigerians who graduate with the impression that “I have a certificate and I have a right to get a job”, it was made known that formal education does not translate the government must look for a job for you, as a matter of factly, thousands of jobs are created everyday but the job created are not enough which is the reason why more entrepreneurs are needed. She said most young Nigerians have the impression of graduating and going to work in the bank, according to her this impression should be changed because very soon many people in the bank will lose their job as technology will be playing the roles of humans in the banks. She said ‘Education offers you an exposed minds, your education is good, but don’t make it handicap. Education is only a facilitator.’

BE FOCUSED; DON’T ENVY YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE EMPLOYED

Like most people who envy their friends who are employed, she advised the young entrepreneurs never to envy, though it takes time before your fruit start blooming as an entrepreneur, but it will come as a flood of surprise. It is of no value if you envy your friends who are already making it big in their field. Awosika puts it this way ‘don’t envy your friends that already have work.’ You are creating yours.

With these point listed above Awosika was able to inspire over seven hundred young people at the AYESA conference held on December 5th 2015 at The University of Lagos.